Exodus 20:3-11 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

Thou shalt have no other gods before me - אחרים אלהים elohim acherim , no strange gods - none that thou art not acquainted with, none who has not given thee such proofs of his power and godhead as I have done in delivering thee from the Egyptians, dividing the Red Sea, bringing water out of the rock, quails into the desert, manna from heaven to feed thee, and the pillar of cloud to direct, enlighten, and shield thee. By these miracles God had rendered himself familiar to them, they were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image - As the word פסל pasal signifies to hew, carve, grave, etc., פסל pesel may here signify any kind of image, either of wood, stone, or metal, on which the axe, the chisel, or the graving tool has been employed. This commandment includes in its prohibitions every species of idolatry known to have been practiced among the Egyptians. The reader will see this the more plainly by consulting the notes on the ten plagues, particularly those on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:5

Jealous God - This shows in a most expressive manner the love of God to this people. He felt for them as the most affectionate husband could do for his spouse; and was jealous for their fidelity, because he willed their invariable happiness. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children - This necessarily implies - if the children walk in the steps of their fathers; for no man can be condemned by Divine justice for a crime of which he was never guilty; see Ezekiel 18. Idolatry... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:6

And showing mercy unto thousands - Mark; even those who love God and keep his commandments merit nothing from him, and therefore the salvation and blessedness which these enjoy come from the mercy of God: Showing mercy, etc. What a disproportion between the works of justice and mercy! Justice works to the third or fourth, mercy to thousands of generations! The heathen had maxims like these. Theocritus also teaches that the children of the good shall be blessed because of their parents'... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain - This precept not only forbids all false oaths, but all common swearing where the name of God is used, or where he is appealed to as a witness of the truth. It also necessarily forbids all light and irreverent mention of God, or any of his attributes; and this the original word לשוא lashshav particularly imports: and we may safely add to all these, that every prayer, ejaculation, etc., that is not accompanied with deep reverence... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:8

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy - See what has been already said on this precept, Genesis 2:2 , and elsewhere. See Clarke's note on Genesis 2:2 . As this was the most ancient institution, God calls them to remember it; as if he had said, Do not forget that when I had finished my creation I instituted the Sabbath, and remember why I did so, and for what purposes. The word שבת shabbath signifies rest or cessation from labor; and the sanctification of the seventh day is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:9

Six days shalt thou labor - Therefore he who idles away time on any of the six days, is as guilty before God as he who works on the Sabbath. No work should be done on the Sabbath that can be done on the preceding days, or can be deferred to the succeeding ones. Works of absolute necessity and mercy are alone excepted. He who works by his servants or cattle is equally guilty as if he worked himself. Hiring out horses, etc., for pleasure or business, going on journeys, paying worldly visits,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

Verse 3 Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this commandment God enjoins that He alone should be worshipped, and requires a worship free from all superstition. For although it seems to be a simple prohibition, yet must we deduce an affirmation from the negative, as will be more apparent from the following words. Therefore does He set Himself before them, in order that the Israelites may look to Him alone; and claims His own just right, in order that it may not be transferred... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Verse 4 4.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. In the First Commandment, after He had taught who was the true God, He commanded that He alone should e worshipped; and now He defines what is His Legitimate Worship. Now, since these are two distinct things, we conclude that the commandments are also distinct, in which different things are treated of. The former indeed precedes in order, viz., that believers are to be contented with one God; but it would not be sufficient for us to be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

Verse 7 Exodus 20:7.Thou shalt not take the name. There is a manifest synecdoche in this Commandment; for in order that God may procure for His name its due reverence, He forbids its being taken in vain, especially in oaths. Whence we infer on the other hand an affirmative commandment, that every oath should be a testimony of true piety, whereby the majesty of God Himself should obtain its proper glory. Moreover, it is clear that not only when we swear by God, His name is to be reverently... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

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