Exodus 20:2

+ 20:2. Ex 20:2; Deut 5:6 (#1.1): T. I am Yahweh your God / R. To know there is a God Consider: In Ancient Days, when two people would enter into a covenant, the greater of the two would preamble the covenant with a descriptive reason the covenant is being made, usually recounting past history and actions. The two entering covenant would have relationship established and next are the terms of the covenant, for both parties (see D. Freedman, The Nine Commandments, chapter 1 and 2) “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery], out of the house of bondage.

One Unity Resource Bible

In The King James Version

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

In Context

1God spoke all these words, saying,

3+ 20:3. Ex 20:3; Deut 5:7 (Deut 5:6-7) (#2a.60): T. Not to recognize, bow down to, nor serve the deities of others in My Presence / R. Not to entertain the thought that there is any god but Adonai R. Note: Jewish culture on karet ·to cut off·. Karet is God’s prerogative to be used in special cases only. This applies the capitol punishment ( karet ·to be cut off·) to all generations alive at the time of the crime. This punishment is not a curse on the family, but it does put a close on the family linage (see D. Freedman, The Nine Commandments, p106-107) “You shall have no other elohim ·deities, judges· before me.

Read all of Exodus 20

Cross References

Exodus 10:1Adonai said to Moses [Drawn out], “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them,

Exodus 13:14It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Adonai brought us out from Egypt [Abode of slavery], from the house of bondage.

Leviticus 11:45For I am Adonai who brought you up out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery], to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. + 11:45. (44-45) Quoted in 1 Pet 1:16

Leviticus 23:43that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel [God prevails] to dwell in sukkot ·temporary tents·, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]. I am Adonai your God.’”

Leviticus 25:42+ 25:42. Lev 25:42 (Lev 25:39-43) (#5.371): Not to sell a Hebrew male servant as slaves are sold (More notes in Ex 21:8 OU360) For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]. They shall not be sold as slaves.

Leviticus 26:1+ 26:1. Lev 26:1 (#2a.72): T. Not to set up a stone as an idol for worship / R. Not to bow down to a smooth, figured stone “‘You shall make for yourselves no idols, and you shall not raise up an engraved image or a pillar, and you shall not place any figured stone in your land, to hawa ·bow low, prostrate· to it; for I am Adonai your God.

Matthew Henry on Exodus 20:2-12

The Ten Commandments. ( b. c. 1491.) 1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Exodus 20:2