Exodus 20:8-13 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:1-11

Here is, I. The preface of the law-writer, Moses: God spoke all these words, Exod. 20:1. The law of the ten commandments is, 1. A law of God's making. They are enjoined by the infinite eternal Majesty of heaven and earth. And where the word of the King of kings is surely there is power. 2. It is a law of his own speaking. God has many ways of speaking to the children of men (Job 33:14); once, yea twice?by his Spirit, by conscience, by providences, by his voice, all which we ought carefully to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:12-17

We have here the laws of the second table, as they are commonly called, the last six of the ten commandments, comprehending our duty to ourselves and to one another, and constituting a comment upon the second great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. As religion towards God is an essential branch of universal righteousness, so righteousness towards men is an essential branch of true religion. Godliness and honesty must go together. I. The fifth commandment concerns the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:8

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. By abstaining from all servile work and business, and from all pleasures and recreations lawful on other days, and by spending it in religious exercises, both internal and external. This the Israelites are bid to "remember", by observing it in such a manner, because this command had been given them before at the first time the manna was rained about their tents, Exodus 16:23 and because it was a command of positive institution, and not a part of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:9

Six days shalt thou labour ,.... This is not to be taken for a precept, but a permission; not as a command enjoining men to work and labour with their hands, to provide for themselves and families things useful and necessary, and honest in the sight of God; but as a grant and allowance of so many days to employ themselves in, for their own profit and advantage, and that of their families; the Lord only reserving one day out of seven for his service, which ought to be looked upon as a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:10

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God ,.... Not which he rested on, and ceased from the works of creation in, though he did rest on the seventh day of the creation, and so on every other day since, as well as that; nor does it appear, nor can it be proved, that this day appointed to the Jews as a sabbath was the seventh day of the week from the creation of the world; but was either the seventh day of the week from their coming out of Egypt, or from the raining of the manna:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:11

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea , and all that in them is , &c.; And of which six days, and of the several things made in each of them, see the notes on the first chapter of Genesis: and resteth the seventh day : which does not suppose labour, attended with weariness and fatigue; for the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary, Isaiah 40:28 nor ease and refreshment from it, but only a cessation from the works of creation, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:12

Honour thy father and thy mother , &c.; Which is the fifth commandment of the decalogue, but is the first commandment with promise, as the apostle says, Ephesians 6:2 and is the first of the second table: this, though it may be extended to all ancestors in the ascending line, as father's father and mother, mother's father and mother, &c.; and to all such who are in the room of parents, as step-fathers and step-mothers, guardians, nurses, &c.; and to all superiors in dignity and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:13

Thou shalt not kill. Not meaning any sort of creatures, for there are some to be killed for the food and nourishment of men, and others for their safety and preservation; but rational creatures, men, women, and children, any of the human species, of every age, sex, condition, or nation; no man has a right to take away his own life, or the life of another; by this law is forbidden suicide, or self-murder, parricide or murder of parents, homicide or the murder of man; yet killing of men in... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:1-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:12-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:13

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

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

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