Exodus 20:2 kjv

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 20:2 nkjv

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 20:2 niv

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Exodus 20:2 esv

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Exodus 20:2 nlt

"I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

Exodus 20 verses

Exodus 20 2 Meaning

Exodus 20:2 serves as the divine preface to the Ten Commandments, declaring God's identity and foundational relationship with Israel. It establishes God as "the Lord their God," Yahweh, the personal and covenantal Deity. Crucially, it highlights His past redemptive act of delivering them from brutal bondage in Egypt. This declaration asserts His rightful authority and forms the very basis upon which the ensuing commandments are given, revealing that obedience flows from gratitude for salvation, not as a means to earn it.

Exodus 20 2 Context

Exodus 20:2 stands as the authoritative introduction to the Decalogue (Exo 20:3-17), delivered by God Himself from Mount Sinai amidst thunder, lightning, and the blast of a trumpet (Exo 19). The Israelites had just witnessed God's spectacular manifestation, establishing His undeniable presence and power. Historically, this verse follows their miraculous deliverance from four centuries of brutal slavery in Egypt. It serves as a preamble to the covenant, echoing the standard form of ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties where a great king would first identify himself and recount his benevolent acts towards his vassal, thereby establishing his authority and the vassal's obligation. This foundation implies that the commandments are not arbitrary rules imposed by a distant deity, but the guiding principles for a people already liberated by God's gracious intervention.

Exodus 20 2 Word analysis

• I (אָנֹכִי - Anokhi): This Hebrew pronoun is emphatic, specifically "I myself." It stresses God's personal, direct declaration, differentiating Him from any other deities or sources of law. It asserts His unique identity and singular authority.
• am: (implied verb in Hebrew) Signifies existence and presence. Combined with "I," it echoes the divine self-revelation "I AM WHO I AM" from Exo 3:14, affirming His eternal, self-existent nature.
• the LORD (יהוה - YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name. It points to God's character as the faithful, unchanging God who fulfills His promises and actively intervenes in history. This name signifies His redemptive power and relational aspect, distinct from general terms for 'god.'
• your God (אֱלֹהֶיךָ - Eloheykha): "God" (Elohim) is a general term for deity, but when suffixed with "your" (possessive second person singular), it indicates a unique, intimate, and covenantal relationship with Israel, specifically identifying Him as their God. It establishes mutual belonging and loyalty.
• who brought you out (הוֹצֵאתִיךָ - hotsetiykha): A direct, active verb. It highlights God's specific, historical action of powerful liberation. This verb emphasizes His role as rescuer and the concrete evidence of His power and commitment to His people.
• of the land of Egypt (מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - mee'eretz Mitzrayim): Specifies the physical place of their oppression. This is a verifiable, historical event, rooting the divine declaration in concrete reality. It pinpoints the severity of their bondage and the magnitude of God's act.
• out of the house of slavery (מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים - mi'beit avadim): This phrase amplifies and re-emphasizes the previous one, highlighting the absolute nature of their servitude. "House of slavery" depicts an institutional, oppressive system, underlining the profound and comprehensive nature of their previous bondage and God's complete deliverance.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "I am the LORD your God": This powerful opening establishes the speaker's absolute identity and authority. It asserts not merely existence, but sovereign presence and personal relation. It is a declaration of divine uniqueness, countering any polytheistic notions of multiple deities. It posits Yahweh as Israel's sole legitimate claim.
• "who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery": This phrase serves as the basis for the commandments. God's act of redemptive liberation is the grounding for Israel's obedience. It functions as a reminder of their rescued status and the grace that preceded the law. This emphasizes that the law is given to a redeemed people, not for redemption. It directly confronts Egyptian ideology by showcasing YHWH's triumph over Pharaoh and his gods, who were powerless to stop Israel's departure. This act of liberation makes clear YHWH's authority over all nations and deities.

Exodus 20 2 Bonus section

This verse functions like the Preamble in ancient Near Eastern vassal treaties, where the Great King identifies himself and recites his gracious deeds for the vassal state, thereby establishing the foundation and legitimacy for the treaty's stipulations. It's a statement of divine credentials before presenting divine demands. The deliverance from Egypt was the most significant redemptive event in Israel's history, akin to a 'new creation' or 'new birth' for the nation. This verse highlights the fact that covenant obedience stems from a foundational act of grace and liberation. The "house of slavery" refers to an oppressive, soul-crushing environment, emphasizing the totality of God's redemptive work. The repeated emphasis on "Egypt" and "slavery" underscores the real, historical context of God's intervention, making His self-declaration concrete and irrefutable for the original audience.

Exodus 20 2 Commentary

Exodus 20:2 is far more than a simple introduction; it is the theological bedrock upon which the entire Mosaic Covenant is founded. By stating "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery," God grounds His authority not in arbitrary power, but in His demonstrable character and past redemptive acts. He identifies Himself by His personal covenant name (YHWH) and emphasizes His specific relationship with Israel ("your God"). This preamble highlights that the Ten Commandments are not a pathway to salvation but guidelines for a people already saved by divine grace. The freedom granted was not to indulge in lawlessness, but to live in responsible covenant with their Liberator. This verse is a powerful polemic against the numerous gods of Egypt and other ancient Near Eastern deities, asserting YHWH's sole sovereignty, power, and active involvement in history. His unique claim over Israel is rooted in this unparalleled act of deliverance, demanding their exclusive allegiance and worship as a grateful response. For Christians, this also prefigures salvation through Christ—we are delivered from sin's bondage not by our works, but by God's grace, and then empowered by the Holy Spirit to live according to His divine will as a transformed people.