Exodus 20:18-26
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The People’s Reaction
18 All the people witnessed[a] the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it[b] they trembled and stood at a distance.(A) 19 “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”(B)
20 Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will not[c] sin.”(C) 21 And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.(D)
Moses Receives Additional Laws
22 Then the Lord told Moses, “This is what you are to say to the Israelites: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.(E) 23 You must not make gods of silver to rival Me; you must not make gods of gold for yourselves.[d](F)
24 “You must make an earthen altar for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats, as well as your cattle. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause My name to be remembered.(G) 25 If you make a stone altar for Me, you must not build it out of cut stones. If you use your chisel on it, you will defile it.(H) 26 You must not go up to My altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 20:18 Lit saw
- Exodus 20:18 Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read smoking; the people (or they) were afraid
- Exodus 20:20 Lit that the fear of Him may be in you, and you do not
- Exodus 20:23 Hb obscure
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