OET EXO chapter 20

Literal Version

20 Then God gave these instructions to the Israelis: 2 I’m your god Yahweh, who rescued you[fn] from where you were enslaved in Egypt.

3 You mustn’t own any other gods in my sight.
4 You mustn’t make a carved figure for yourself, nor carve a copy of anything in the sky above or in the earth below, or that’s in the water under the earth.[ref] 5 Don’t bow down to idols and don’t serve them, because I, your god Yahweh, am a jealous God. I remember the sins of the fathers and punish the children of even the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,[ref] 6 but I faithfully fulfil my promises to thousands of generations of those who love me and who obey my instructions.
7 You mustn’t wrongly promote the name of Yahweh your god, because I won’t leave anyone unpunished who does that.[ref]
8 Keep Saturday different from all the other days[ref]—9 there’s six days every week for working.[ref] 10 The seventh day is a rest day for Yahweh your god: you mustn’t do any work—not you, or your children, or your male or female servants, or your cattle, or the foreigners living among you—11 because Yahweh made the heavens and earth, the sea, and everything that’s in them in six days. Then he rested on the seventh day, so that’s why he blessed the rest day and made it sacred.[ref]
12 Honour your father and your mother, so that you’ll have a long life on the land that your god Yahweh is about to give you.[ref]
13 You mustn’t murder.[ref]
14 You mustn’t commit adultery.[ref]
15 You mustn’t steal.[ref]
16 You mustn’t lie in court.[ref]
17 You mustn’t covet your neighbour’s house or spouse, or their male or female servants, or their animals, or anything else they own.[ref]

20 and_ god _he/it _spoke DOM all _of the_words/messages the_these to_say.
2 I[fn] am_YHWH god _of_your[fn] who I_brought _you _out from_the _land _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) from_a _house _of[fn] slaves[fn].
3 Not it _will _belong to/for_yourself(m)[fn][fn] gods[fn] other[fn] on face _of_my[fn].
[fn] 4 not you _must _make to/for_yourself(m)[fn] an _image[fn][fn] and_all form[fn] which[fn] is_in_heavens[fn] (from)_above[fn] and_which[fn] on _the_earth[fn] (from)_beneath[fn][fn] and_which[fn] is_in_waters[fn] from_under[fn] to_earth[fn].
[fn] 5 not you _must _bow _down[fn][fn] to/for_them[fn] and_not you_must _be _enticed _to _serve _them[fn] if/because I YHWH god _of_your am_a _god jealous who_visits the_iniquity _of fathers on children on a _third _generation and_on a _fourth _generation of_those _of_who_hate _me[fn].
6 And_who_does[fn] covenant _loyalty[fn] to_thousands[fn] of_those _of_who_love _me and_of_those _who_keep _of commands _of_(of)_my.
7 not you _must _take DOM the _name _of YHWH god _of_your for_emptiness if/because not YHWH he _will _leave _unpunished DOM one_who he _will _take DOM his/its_name for_emptiness.
8 remember[fn] DOM the _day _of[fn] of_the _sabbath[fn] to_set_it _apart _as _holy[fn].
[fn] 9 six _of[fn] days[fn] you _will _labour[fn] and_you _will _do[fn] all _of work _of_your[fn].
[fn] 10 and_the_day _of the_seventh[fn] is_a _sabbath[fn] to/for_YHWH god _of_your[fn] not you _must _do[fn] any _of work[fn] you and_your _of_son and_your _of_daughter[fn] servant _of_your_male[fn] and_your _female _of_servant[fn] and_your _of_livestock[fn] and_your _of_sojourner[fn] who[fn] is_in_your(pl)_of_gates[fn].
[fn] 11 if/because six _of days YHWH he _made DOM the_heavens and_DOM the_earth/land DOM the_sea and_DOM all _of that is_in_them and_he _rested in _the_day the_seventh therefore yes/correct/thus/so YHWH he _blessed DOM the _day _of the _sabbath and_he_set _it _apart _as _holy.
12 honour DOM I _will _show_you(ms) and_DOM mother _of_your so _that they_may _be _long days _of_your on the_soil which YHWH god _of_your is_about _to _give to/for_you(fs).
13 not[fn] you _must _murder[fn].
14 not[fn] you _must _commit _adultery[fn].
15 not[fn] you _must _steal[fn].
16 not you _must _testify against_your _of_neighbour transcript _of falsehood.
17 not you _must _covet the _house _of your _neighbour _of_of not you _must _covet the _wife _of your _neighbour _of_of and_his_male_of_servant and_his _female _of_servant and_his _of_ox and_his _of_donkey and_all/each/any/every that belongs_to_your _of_neighbour.

20:18 The people are afraid of God

(Deu. 5:22-33)

18 All of the people could hear and see the thunder and the lightning, the sound of the horn, and the mountain smoking. They trembled when they saw it, and they remained standing at a distance.[ref] 19 They begged Mosheh, “You be the one to speak to us, and we’ll listen, but don’t let God speak directly to us, in case we die.”

20 “Don’t be afraid,” Mosheh responded, “because God has come to test you so that the fear of him will remain with you so that you all won’t disobey him.” 21 So the people stood at a good distance while Mosheh approached toward the thick darkness where God was.

18 and_all the_people were_seeing DOM the _thunder_claps and_DOM the_lightning(s) and_DOM the _sound _of the _ram’s _horn and_DOM the_mountain smoking and_he/it _saw the_people and_they _trembled and_they _stood from_a _distance.
19 And_they _said to Mosheh speak you with_us and_we _will _listen and_not let _him _speak with_us god lest we _should _die.
20 And_ Mosheh _he/it _said to the_people do _not be _afraid if/because (to)_in_order to _put _to _the _test you(pl) he _has _come the_ʼElohīm and_so_that it _may _be fear _of_his on your(pl)_faces to_not you(pl)_will _sin.
21 And_it _stood the_people from_a _distance and_Mosheh he _drew _near to the _thick_darkness where was_there the_ʼElohīm.

20:22 Instructions about altars

22 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “This is what you need to tell the Israelis: ‘You yourselves have seen that I, Yahweh, have talked with you from heaven. 23 You all mustn’t make gods out of silver or gold for yourselves to have alongside me. 24 You need to make an altar for me out of dirt, and then you can sacrifice your burnt offerings and peace offerings, and your sheep and cattle, on it. I’ll inform you about every place where I want to be worshipped and I’ll come to you and will bless you there. 25 If you do make me an altar with stones, you mustn’t use cut stones to build it because moving your tools over it will defile it.[ref] 26 And don’t use steps to get up to the altar because you might expose your private parts under your robes.

20:2 Although modern English doesn’t easily distinguish it, this discourse is addressed to singular ‘you’, i.e., to the Israelis as one group. While some of our modern, individualistic cultures might naturally interpret these rules as applying to individuals, they were given to Yisrael/Israel to implement at a national level.

20:4-5: Exo 34:17; Lev 19:4; 26:1; Deu 4:15-18; 27:15.

20:5-6: Exo 34:6-7; Num 14:18; Deu 7:9-10.

20:7: Lev 19:12.

20:8: Exo 16:23-30; 31:12-14.

20:9-10: Exo 23:12; 31:15; 34:21; 35:2; Lev 23:3.

20:11: Gen 2:1-3; Exo 31:17.

20:12: a Deu 27:16; Mat 15:4; 19:19; Mrk 7:10; 10:19; Luk 18:20; Eph 6:2; b Eph 6:3.

20:13: Gen 9:6; Lev 24:17; Mat 5:21; 19:18; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20; Rom 13:9; Jam 2:11.

20:14: Lev 20:10; Mat 5:27; 19:18; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20; Rom 13:9; Jam 2:11.

20:15: Lev 19:11; Mat 19:18; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20; Rom 13:9.

20:16: Exo 23:1; Mat 19:18; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20.

20:17: Rom 7:7; 13:9.

20:18-19: Heb 12:18-19.

20:25: Deu 27:5-7; Josh 8:31.

22 and_ YHWH _he/it _said to Mosheh thus you _will _say to the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) you(pl) you(pl)_have _seen if/because _that from the_heavens I _have _spoken with_you(pl).
23 Not you(pl)_must _make with_me gods _of silver and_gods _of gold not you(pl)_must _make for_yourselves.
24 An _altar _of earth you _will _make to/for_me and_you _will _sacrifice on/upon/above_him/it DOM offerings _of_your _burnt and_DOM offerings _of_your _peace DOM sheep _of_your and_DOM cattle _of_your in_all (the)_place where I _will _cause _to _be _remembered DOM name _of_my I _will _come to_you and_I_will _bless _you.
25 And_if an _altar _of stones you _will _make to/for_me not you _must _build them hewn_stone if/because tool _of_your you _have _wielded on/upon_it(f) and_you_have _profaned _it.
26 And_not you _must _go _up on_steps to altar _of_my that not it _will _be _uncovered nakedness _of_your on/upon/above_him/it.

20:2 OSHB alternative note: אָֽנֹכִ֖י: (x-accent)אָֽנֹכִי֙

20:2 OSHB alternative note: אֱלֹהֶ֑י/ךָ: (x-accent)אֱלֹהֶ֔י/ךָ

20:2 OSHB alternative note: מִ/בֵּ֥ית: (x-accent)מִ/בֵּ֣ית

20:2 OSHB alternative note: עֲבָדִֽים: (x-accent)עֲבָדִ֑ים

20:3 OSHB alternative note: לְ/ךָ֛: (x-accent)לְ/ךָ֩

20:3 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:3 OSHB alternative note: אֱלֹהִ֥ים: (x-accent)אֱלֹהִ֨ים

20:3 OSHB alternative note: אֲחֵרִ֖ים: (x-accent)אֲחֵרִ֜ים

20:3 OSHB alternative note: פָּנָֽ/יַ: (x-accent)פָּנָ֗/יַ

20:3 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:4 OSHB alternative note: לְ/ךָ֥: (x-accent)לְ/ךָ֣

20:4 OSHB alternative note: פֶ֨סֶל֙: (x-accent)פֶ֣סֶל׀

20:4 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:4 OSHB alternative note: תְּמוּנָ֔ה: (x-accent)תְּמוּנָ֡ה

20:4 OSHB alternative note: אֲשֶׁ֤ר: (x-accent)אֲשֶׁ֣ר

20:4 OSHB alternative note: בַּ/שָּׁמַ֨יִם֙: (x-accent)בַּ/שָּׁמַ֣יִם׀

20:4 OSHB alternative note: מִ/מַּ֔עַל: (x-accent)מִ/מַּ֡עַל

20:4 OSHB alternative note: וַ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר: (x-accent)וַ/אֲשֶׁר֩

20:4 OSHB alternative note: בָּ/אָ֖רֶץ: (x-accent)בָּ/אָ֨רֶץ

20:4 OSHB alternative note: מִ/תָּ֑חַת: (x-accent)מִ/תָּ֜חַת

20:4 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:4 OSHB alternative note: וַ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר: (x-accent)וַ/אֲשֶׁ֣ר

20:4 OSHB alternative note: בַּ/מַּ֖יִם: (x-accent)בַּ/מַּ֣יִם׀

20:4 OSHB alternative note: מִ/תַּ֥חַת: (x-accent)מִ/תַּ֣חַת

20:4 OSHB alternative note: לָ/אָֽרֶץ: (x-accent)לָ/אָ֗רֶץ

20:4 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:5 OSHB alternative note: תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה: (x-accent)תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֣ה

20:5 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:5 OSHB alternative note: לָ/הֶ֖ם: (x-accent)לָ/הֶם֮

20:5 OSHB alternative note: תָעָבְדֵ֑/ם: (x-accent)תָעָבְדֵ/ם֒

20:5 OSHB alternative note: לְ/שֹׂנְאָֽ/י: (x-accent)לְ/שֹׂנְאָ֑/י

20:6 OSHB alternative note: וְ/עֹ֥שֶׂה: (x-accent)וְ/עֹ֤שֶׂה

20:6 OSHB alternative note: חֶ֖סֶד: (x-accent)חֶ֨סֶד֙

20:6 OSHB alternative note: לַ/אֲלָפִ֑ים: (x-accent)לַ/אֲלָפִ֔ים

20:8 OSHB alternative note: זָכ֛וֹר: (x-accent)זָכוֹר֩

20:8 OSHB alternative note: י֥וֹם: (x-accent)י֨וֹם

20:8 OSHB alternative note: הַ/שַּׁבָּ֖ת: (x-accent)הַ/שַּׁבָּ֨ת

20:8 OSHB alternative note: לְ/קַדְּשֽׁ/וֹ: (x-accent)לְ/קַדְּשׁ֗/וֹ

20:8 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:9 OSHB alternative note: שֵׁ֤שֶׁת: (x-accent)שֵׁ֣שֶׁת

20:9 OSHB alternative note: יָמִים֙: (x-accent)יָמִ֣ים

20:9 OSHB alternative note: תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד: (x-accent)תַּֽעֲבֹד֮

20:9 OSHB alternative note: וְ/עָשִׂ֖יתָ: (x-accent)וְ/עָשִׂ֣יתָ

20:9 OSHB alternative note: מְלַאכְתֶּֽ/ךָ: (x-accent)מְלַאכְתֶּ/ךָ֒

20:9 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:10 OSHB alternative note: הַ/שְּׁבִיעִ֔י: (x-accent)הַ/שְּׁבִיעִ֜י

20:10 OSHB alternative note: שַׁבָּ֖ת: (x-accent)שַׁבָּ֣ת׀

20:10 OSHB alternative note: אֱלֹהֶ֑י/ךָ: (x-accent)אֱלֹהֶ֗י/ךָ

20:10 OSHB alternative note: תַעֲשֶׂ֨ה: (x-accent)תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה

20:10 OSHB alternative note: מְלָאכָ֜ה: (x-accent)מְלָאכָ֡ה

20:10 OSHB alternative note: וּ/בִתֶּ֗/ךָ: (x-accent)וּ֠/בִתֶּ/ךָ

20:10 OSHB alternative note: עַבְדְּ/ךָ֤: (x-accent)עַבְדְּ/ךָ֨

20:10 OSHB alternative note: וַ/אֲמָֽתְ/ךָ֙: (x-accent)וַ/אֲמָֽתְ/ךָ֜

20:10 OSHB alternative note: וּ/בְהֶמְתֶּ֔/ךָ: (x-accent)וּ/בְהֶמְתֶּ֗/ךָ

20:10 OSHB alternative note: וְ/גֵרְ/ךָ֖: (x-accent)וְ/גֵרְ/ךָ֙

20:10 OSHB alternative note: אֲשֶׁ֥ר: (x-accent)אֲשֶׁ֣ר

20:10 OSHB alternative note: בִּ/שְׁעָרֶֽי/ךָ: (x-accent)בִּ/שְׁעָרֶ֔י/ךָ

20:10 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

20:13 OSHB alternative note: לֹ֖א: (x-accent)לֹ֥א

20:13 OSHB alternative note: תִּרְצָֽח: (x-accent)תִֿרְצָ֖ח

20:14 OSHB alternative note: לֹ֖א: (x-accent)לֹ֣א

20:14 OSHB alternative note: תִּנְאָֽף: (x-accent)תִֿנְאָ֑ף

20:15 OSHB alternative note: לֹ֖א: (x-accent)לֹ֣א

20:15 OSHB alternative note: תִּגְנֹֽב: (x-accent)תִֿגְנֹ֔ב

Open English Translation EXO Chapter 20

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

Open English Translation EXO Chapter 20

Readers’ Version

Literal Version Hide marks

Literal Version