Exo 20-23 | NASB2020 | STEP | Then God spoke all these words , saying ,

Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments

1 Then God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “ ^aI am the Lord your God, ^bwho brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of ^{▼▼Lit slaves}slavery.

3 “ ^dYou shall have no other ^egods ^{▼▼Or besides Me}before Me.

4 “ ^gYou shall not make for yourself ^{▼▼Or a carved image}an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. 5 ⁱYou shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a ^jjealous God, ^kinflicting the ^{▼▼I.e., punishment for the wrongdoing}punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing ^{▼▼Or faithfulness}favor to ⁿthousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “ ^oYou shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not ^{▼▼Or hold him guiltless}leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

8 “Remember ^qthe Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 ^rFor six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it ^syou shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your ^{▼▼Lit stranger}resident who ^{▼▼Lit is in your gates}stays with you. 11 ^vFor in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “ ^wHonor your father and your mother, so that your ^xdays may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

13 “ ^yYou shall not murder.

14 “ ^zYou shall not commit adultery.

15 “ ^aaYou shall not steal.

16 “ ^abYou shall not ^{▼▼Lit answer as a false witness against}give false testimony against your ^adneighbor.

17 “ ^aeYou shall not covet your neighbor’s house; ^afyou shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male slave, or his female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 And ^agall the people were watching and hearing the ^{▼▼Lit sounds}thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 ^aiThen they said to Moses, “Speak ^{▼▼Lit with}to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak ^{▼▼Lit with}to us, or we will die!” 20 However, Moses said to the people, “ ^alDo not be afraid; for God has come in order ^amto test you, and in order that ^anthe fear of Him may ^{▼▼Lit be before}remain with you, so that you will not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached ^apthe thick darkness where God was.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that ^aqI have spoken ^{▼▼Lit with}to you from heaven. 23 ^asYou shall not make other gods besides Me; ^atgods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. 24 You shall make ^auan altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your ^avburnt offerings and your ^awpeace offerings, ^axyour sheep and your oxen; in every place ^aywhere I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 And if you make an altar of stone for Me, ^azyou shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your chisel on it, you will profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that ^bayour nakedness will not be exposed on it.’

Exodus 21

Ordinances for the People

1 “Now these are the ^bbordinances which you are to set before them:

2 “If you buy ^bca Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment to you. 3 If he comes ^{▼▼Lit by himself}alone, he shall leave ^{▼▼Lit by himself}alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall leave with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave ^{▼▼Lit by himself}alone. 5 But ^bgif the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to ^{▼▼Or the judges (who acted in God’s name)}God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an ^{▼▼I.e., a pointed tool}awl; and he shall serve him permanently.

7 “Now ^bjif a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to ^{▼▼Lit go out}go free ^blas the male slaves ^{▼▼Lit go out}do. 8 If she is ^{▼▼Lit bad}displeasing in the eyes of her master ^{▼▼Another reading is so that he did not designate her}who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people, because of his ^{▼▼Lit dealing treacherously}unfairness to her. 9 And if he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her ^{▼▼Lit flesh}food, her clothing, or ^brher conjugal rights. 11 But if he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go ^{▼▼Lit out}free for nothing, without payment of money.

Personal Injuries

12 “ ^btHe who strikes someone so that he dies shall certainly be put to death. 13 ^buYet ^{▼▼Lit he who}if he did not lie in wait for him, but ^bwGod caused him to fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. 14 ^bxIf, however, someone is enraged against his neighbor, so as to kill him in a cunning way, you are to take him even from My altar, to be put to death.

15 “And one who strikes his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

16 “Now ^byone who ^{▼▼Lit steals}kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his ^{▼▼Lit hand}possession, shall certainly be put to death.

17 “And ^cbone who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

18 “Now if people have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with a fist, and he does not die but ^{▼▼Lit lies in}is confined to bed, 19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his ^{▼▼Lit his sitting}loss of time, and ^{▼▼Lit healing, he shall cause to be healed}shall pay for his care until he is completely healed.

20 “And if someone strikes his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies ^{▼▼Lit under}at his hand, he shall ^{▼▼Lit suffer vengeance}be punished. 21 If, however, the slave ^{▼▼Lit stands}survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; ^cifor the slave is his ^{▼▼Lit money}property.

22 “Now if people struggle with each other and strike a pregnant woman so that ^{▼▼Or an untimely birth occurs; lit her children come out}she gives birth prematurely, but there is no injury, the guilty person shall certainly be fined as the woman’s husband ^{▼▼Lit lays on him}may demand of him, and he shall ^cmpay ^{▼▼Lit by arbitration}as the judges decide. 23 But if there is any further injury, ^cothen you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24 ^cpeye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, ^{▼▼Lit welt}bruise for bruise.

26 “And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let ^{▼▼Lit him go...his eye}the slave go free on account of the eye. 27 And if he ^{▼▼Lit causes to fall}knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let ^{▼▼Lit him go...his tooth}the slave go free on account of the tooth.

28 “Now if an ox gores a man or a woman ^{▼▼Lit so that he dies}to death, ^cvthe ox shall certainly be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. 29 If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is ^{▼▼Lit laid on him}demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is ^{▼▼Lit laid on him}demanded of him. 31 Whether it gores a son or ^{▼▼Lit gores a daughter}a daughter, it shall be done to him according to ^{▼▼Lit this judgment}the same rule. 32 If the ox gores a male or female slave, ^{▼▼Lit he}the owner shall give his or her master ^{▼▼About 15 oz. or 425 gm
,} ^dcthirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Property Rights

33 “Now if someone opens a pit, or ^{▼▼Lit if a man digs}digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall ^{▼▼Lit give back}give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his.

35 “And if someone’s ox injures another’s ox so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its proceeds equally; and they shall also divide the dead ox. 36 Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he must make restitution of ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his.

Exodus 22

Property Rights

1 “ ^{▼▼Ch 21:37 in Heb}If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and ^dgfour sheep for the sheep-- 2 ^{▼▼Ch 22:1 in Heb}If the ^dithief is ^{▼▼Lit found}caught while ^{▼▼I.e., at night; cf. v 3}breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account--A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be ^dlsold for his theft. 4 If what he stole is actually found alive in his ^{▼▼Lit hand}possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, ^dnhe shall pay double.

5 “If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

7 “ ^doIf someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the ^{▼▼Lit man’s}neighbor’s house, if the thief is ^{▼▼Lit found}caught, then the thief shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not ^{▼▼Lit found}caught, then the owner of the house shall ^{▼▼Lit approach to}appear before ^{▼▼Or God
,} ^duthe judges, to determine whether he ^{▼▼Lit stretched his hand}laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9 For every ^{▼▼Or matter of wrongdoing}breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the ^{▼▼Lit matter}case of both parties shall come before ^{▼▼Or God
,} ^dzthe judges; he whom ^{▼▼Or God}the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 “If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 an ^eboath before the Lord shall be ^{▼▼Lit between the two}taken by the two of them ^{▼▼Lit if}that he has not ^{▼▼Lit reached out his hand}laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is all torn to pieces, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.

14 “And if someone ^{▼▼Lit asks}borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it ^{▼▼I.e., the fee covers the loss}came by its hire.

Various Laws

16 “ ^ehIf a man seduces a virgin who is not ^{▼▼A betrothed couple was considered legally married, but did not yet live together}betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a ^{▼▼I.e., bride-price}dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall ^{▼▼Lit weigh out silver}pay money equal to the ^eldowry for virgins.

18 “You shall not allow a ^emsorceress to live.

19 “ ^enWhoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

20 “ ^eoHe who sacrifices to ^{▼▼Lit the gods}any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be ^{▼▼Lit put under the ban}utterly destroyed.

21 “ ^erYou shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 ^esYou shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and ^etif he does cry out to Me, ^euI will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, ^evand your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 “ ^ewIf you lend money to My people, to the poor ^{▼▼Lit with}among you, you are not to ^{▼▼Lit be}act as a creditor to him; you shall not ^{▼▼Lit lay upon}charge him ^fainterest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak ^fbas a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his ^{▼▼Lit skin}body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that ^fdwhen he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for ^feI am gracious.

28 “You shall not ^{▼▼Or revile
,} ^fgcurse God, ^fhnor curse a ruler of your people.

29 “ ^fiYou shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your ^{▼▼Lit juice}wine. ^fkThe firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 ^flYou shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; ^fmon the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 “ ^fnYou shall be holy people to Me, therefore ^foyou shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Exodus 23

Various Laws

1 “ ^fpYou shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a ^fqmalicious witness. 2 You shall not follow ^{▼▼Lit many}the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you ^{▼▼Or answer}testify in a dispute so as to join together with ^{▼▼Lit many}a crowd in order to ^fupervert justice; 3 ^fvnor shall you ^{▼▼Lit honor}show favor to a poor person in his dispute.

4 “ ^fxIf you encounter your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him. 5 ^fyIf you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave it helpless for ^{▼▼Lit him}its owner; you must arrange the load with him.

6 “ ^gaYou shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. 7 ^gbKeep far from a false charge, and ^gcdo not kill the innocent or the righteous, for ^gdI will not acquit the guilty.

8 “ ^geYou shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and ^{▼▼Or distorts the words}subverts the cause of the just.

9 “ ^ggYou shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the ^{▼▼Lit soul}feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Sabbath and the Land

10 “Now ^giyou shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, 11 but in the seventh year you shall let it ^{▼▼Lit drop}rest and lie uncultivated, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the animal of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “ ^gkFor six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as the stranger residing with you, may refresh themselves. 13 Now ^glconcerning everything which I have said to you, be careful; and ^gmdo not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard ^{▼▼Lit on}from your mouth.

Three National Feasts

14 “ ^goThree times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me. 15 You shall keep ^gpthe Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the ^gqmonth of Abib, for in ^{▼▼Lit it}that month you came out of Egypt. And ^{▼▼Lit they shall not
,} ^gtno one is to appear before Me empty-handed. 16 Also you shall keep ^guthe Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year ^gvwhen you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 ^gwThree times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord ^{▼▼Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord}God.

18 “ ^gyYou shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; ^gznor is the fat of My ^{▼▼Or festival}feast to remain overnight until morning.

19 “You shall bring ^hbthe choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.

“ ^hcYou are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.

Conquest of the Land

20 “Behold, I am going to send ^hdan angel before you to guard you along the way and ^heto bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and obey his voice; ^hfdo not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your rebellion, since ^hgMy name is in him. 22 But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then ^hhI will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 ^hiFor My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them. 24 ^hjYou shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; ^hkbut you shall utterly overthrow them and break their ^hlmemorial stones in pieces. 25 ^hmAnd you shall serve the Lord your God, ^{▼▼Or that He may bless}and He will bless your bread and your water; and ^hoI will remove sickness from your midst. 26 There will be no one miscarrying or ^hpunable to have children in your land; ^hqI will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will ^hrsend My terror ahead of you, and ^hsthrow into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will ^htmake all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send ^huhornets ahead of you so that they will ^hvdrive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from you. 29 ^hwI will not drive them out from you in a single year, so that the land will not become desolate and the animals of the field become too numerous for you. 30 I will drive them out from you ^hxlittle by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. 31 ^hyI will set your boundary from the ^{▼▼Lit Sea of Reeds}Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River; ^iafor I will hand over the inhabitants of the land to you, and you will ^ibdrive them out from you. 32 ^icYou shall ^{▼▼Lit cut}make no covenant with them ^ieor with their gods. 33 ^ifThey shall not live in your land, otherwise they will make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, ^igit is certain to be a snare to you.”