Geneva Bible Study Notes :: Footnotes for Exodus 20

Exo 20:1 And God (a) spake all these words, saying,

(a) When Moses and Aaron were gone up, or had passed the bounds of the people, God spoke thus out of the mount Horeb, that all the people heard.

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods (b) before me.

(b) To whose eyes all things are open.

Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not (c) bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a (d) jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

(c) By this outward gesture, all forms of service and worship to idols is forbidden.

(d) And will have revenge on those who condemn my honour.

Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto (e) thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

(e) So ready is he rather to show mercy than to punish.

Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in (f) vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

(f) Either by swearing falsely or rashly by his Name, or by condemning it.

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, (g) to keep it holy.

(g) Which is by meditating the spiritual rest, by hearing God's word, and resting from worldly labours.

Exo 20:12 Honour thy (h) father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(h) By parents it is also meant all that have authority over us.

Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not (i) kill.

(i) But love and preserve your brother's life.

Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not (k) commit adultery.

(k) But be pure in heart, word and deed.

Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not (l) steal.

(l) But study to save his goods.

Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false (m) witness against thy neighbour.

(m) But further his good name, and speak truth.

Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not (n) covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.

(n) You may not so much as wish his hinderance in anything.

Exo 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to (o) prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

(o) Whether you will obey his precepts as you promised in Exo 19:8.

Exo 20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy (p) nakedness be not discovered thereon.

(p) Which might be by his stooping or flying up of his clothes.