Font Size
Exodus 20:18-26
Holman Christian Standard Bible
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
Exodus 20:18-26
New International Version
Exodus 20:18-26
New International Version
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet(A) and saw the mountain in smoke,(B) they trembled with fear.(C) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(D) to us or we will die.”(E)
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(F) God has come to test(G) you, so that the fear(H) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(I)
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(J) where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:(K) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(L) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(M)
24 “‘Make an altar(N) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings(O) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name(P) to be honored, I will come to you and bless(Q) you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool(R) on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts(S) may be exposed.’
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.