Exodus 20:26 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

Moses having gone into the thick darkness, where God was, God there spoke in his hearing only, privately and without terror, all that follows hence to the end of Exod. 23:1-32, which is mostly an exposition of the ten commandments; and he was to transmit it by word of mouth first, and afterwards in writing, to the people. The laws in these verses related to God's worship. I. They are here forbidden to make images for worship (Exod. 20:22, 23): You have seen that I have talked with you from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:26

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar ,.... That is, you priests, the sons of Aaron, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase the words; the altar of burnt offering built when the tabernacle was seemed not to require any, being but three cubits high, Exodus 27:1 but that in Solomon's temple did, being ten cubits high, 2 Chronicles 4:1 and therefore some method must be used to ascend it, and do the business that was to be done on it: now the Jews say F2 Middot,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:26

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar - The word altar comes from altus , high or elevated, though the Hebrew word מזבח mizbach , from זבח zabach , to slay, kill, etc., signifies merely a place for sacrifice; see Genesis 8:20 . But the heathens, who imitated the rites of the true God in their idolatrous worship, made their altars very high; whence they derived their name altaria , altars, i.e., very high or elevated places; which they built thus, partly through... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:26

Verse 26 26.Neither shalt thou go up. When God had prescribed modesty to the priests in their whole life, and in their private actions, no wonder that He should require especial care of decency and propriety in the performance of their sacred duties. He had indeed already desired that the priests should wear drawers or breeches when they went into the sanctuary; yet not content with this symbol of purity, He forbids them to ascend the altar by steps, lest haply the drawers themselves should be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

1 . Against idols; 2 . Concerning altars ( Exodus 20:23-26 ). Then follow the laws respecting what our legal writers call "the rights of persons"—which occupy thirty-two verses of Exodus 21:1-36 . and fall under some twenty different heads, beginning with the rights of slaves, and terminating with the compensation to be made for injuries to the person caused by cattle. The third section is upon "the rights of property," and extends from Exodus 21:33 , to Exodus 22:15 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

I will go unto the altar of God. The directions given shadow forth the essentials of genuine worship. Amongst the heathen the idol is the central figure, the human symbol of the unseen God. The true God will admit no such symbol; it is a barrier against, not a step towards, the worship he desires. In true worship there must be utter self-suppression. "Obedience is better than sacrifice;" it is only through obedience that the sacrifice becomes acceptable. In this light consider— I. THE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:26

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar . Here the reason of decency, added in the text, is obvious; and the law would necessarily continue until sacerdotal vestments of a very different character from the clothes commonly worn by Orientals were introduced ( Exodus 38:3 -43). After their introduction, the reason for the law, and with it the law itself, would drop The supposed "slope of earth" by which the priests are thought to have ascended to the "ledge" on the altar of burnt... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 20:22-26

Nothing could be more appropriate as the commencement of the book of the covenant than these regulations for public worship. The rules for the building of altars must have been old and accepted, and are not inconsistent with the directions for the construction of the altar of the court of the tabernacle, Exodus 27:1-8 (compare Joshua 22:26-28). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 20:26

Exodus 20:26. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar Indeed afterward God appointed an altar ten cubits high. But it is probable they went not up to that by steps, but by a sloping ascent. The garments worn in those countries, being perfectly loose, were easily blown aside, so as to discover the lower parts of the body; to prevent, therefore, this inconvenience, and that no indecency might be intermixed with the service of God, this precaution was necessary. And for the same... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:18-26

Correct attitudes in worship (20:18-26)Moses was satisfied when he saw that the people, having witnessed the frightening events connected with God’s coming to Mount Sinai, were suitably humbled. They became aware of their shortcomings and at the same time developed a greater fear of God (18-21).People were to show a similarly humble attitude when they built altars at places of God’s special revelation (e.g. 17:14-16). Because Israel was a wandering people, such altars were not to be permanent;... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:26

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:26

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 20:22-26

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 20:26

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:18-26

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