I am the LORD your GodThis phrase establishes the identity and authority of God. The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the divine name YHWH, which is considered sacred and is often translated as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." This declaration emphasizes God's personal relationship with the Israelites, affirming His covenant with them. It echoes God's self-revelation to Moses in
Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM," highlighting His eternal and self-existent nature. This phrase sets the foundation for the commandments that follow, asserting that they come from the one true God who has a personal relationship with His people.
who brought you out of the land of Egypt
This phrase recalls the historical event of the Exodus, where God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It serves as a reminder of God's power and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. The Exodus is a central theme in the Old Testament, symbolizing salvation and liberation. It prefigures the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who frees believers from the bondage of sin. The mention of Egypt also serves as a geographical marker, grounding the narrative in a real historical context, supported by archaeological findings of ancient Egyptian civilization.
out of the house of slavery
This phrase underscores the condition from which the Israelites were rescued. "House of slavery" refers to the oppressive environment in Egypt where the Israelites were forced into hard labor. This liberation is a key aspect of Israel's identity and their relationship with God. It is a powerful metaphor for spiritual bondage, with the New Testament drawing parallels to the freedom believers receive through Christ (Galatians 5:1). The deliverance from slavery is a recurring theme in Scripture, illustrating God's redemptive work throughout history.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The LORD (Yahweh)The self-existent, eternal God who reveals Himself to Moses and the Israelites. He is the covenant-keeping God who delivers His people.
2.
The IsraelitesThe descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were enslaved in Egypt and whom God delivered through Moses.
3.
EgyptThe land where the Israelites were enslaved for 400 years. It represents bondage and oppression.
4.
The ExodusThe event of God delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, demonstrating His power and faithfulness.
5.
Mount SinaiThe place where God gives the Ten Commandments to Moses, establishing His covenant with Israel.
Teaching Points
God's Identity and AuthorityRecognize that God identifies Himself as the LORD, emphasizing His authority and covenant relationship with His people. This identity is foundational for understanding His commands.
Deliverance as a Basis for ObedienceGod's deliverance from Egypt is the basis for Israel's obedience. Similarly, our obedience to God should stem from gratitude for His deliverance from sin through Christ.
Remembering God's FaithfulnessJust as the Israelites were to remember their deliverance from Egypt, Christians are called to remember God's faithfulness in their lives, especially through the work of Jesus.
Freedom from BondageThe physical deliverance from Egypt symbolizes the spiritual deliverance from sin. Christians are called to live in the freedom Christ provides, not returning to the bondage of sin.
Covenant RelationshipGod's declaration establishes a covenant relationship. Believers are invited into a covenant relationship with God through Jesus, marked by love, obedience, and faithfulness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 20:2?
2.How does Exodus 20:2 emphasize God's authority in our daily lives?
3.What does "brought you out of Egypt" signify about God's deliverance today?
4.How can we recognize modern "slavery" from which God wants to free us?
5.Connect Exodus 20:2 with New Testament teachings on freedom in Christ.
6.How should God's deliverance in Exodus 20:2 influence our worship practices?
7.How does Exodus 20:2 define God's identity and authority over Israel?
8.What historical evidence supports the events described in Exodus 20:2?
9.How does Exodus 20:2 relate to the concept of divine deliverance?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 20?
11.What are the Catholic Ten Commandments?
12.What defines totalitarianism?
13.What is the theme of House of Bondage?
14.What is the theme of House of Bondage?What Does Exodus 20:2 Mean
I am the LORD• The first words ground everything that follows in God’s unchanging identity. As He told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14).
• He alone possesses absolute authority; “I am the LORD; that is My name!” (Isaiah 42:8).
• Because He does not change (Malachi 3:6), His moral commands remain steady and trustworthy.
•Revelation 1:8 echoes the same certainty for every generation: “I am the Alpha and the Omega… the Almighty.”
your God• The personal pronoun “your” turns the statement from a cosmic declaration into a covenant embrace.
–Genesis 17:7 shows this pattern: God binds Himself to be “your God and the God of your descendants.”
• Israel is reminded that the LORD is not a distant force but the One who walks among His people (Leviticus 26:12).
• The phrase also carries responsibility.Deuteronomy 6:4 announces, “The LORD our God, the LORD is One,” calling for exclusive loyalty.
• Relationship precedes regulation; the commands that follow flow from belonging (Psalm 100:3;Jeremiah 31:33).
who brought you out of the land of Egypt• History fuels devotion. The LORD points to a specific, public rescue—Israel’s exodus.
–Exodus 12 records the night He struck Egypt’s firstborn and freed His people.
• This act of deliverance becomes a continual refrain (Deuteronomy 5:6;Hosea 11:1), proving God’s power and compassion.
• The New Testament looks back and sees a pattern of redemption fulfilled in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).
out of the house of slavery• The Lord did more than change Israel’s address; He shattered their chains. “I relieved his shoulder of the burden” (Psalm 81:6).
• This freedom is the foundation for the coming commandments. Because they are no longer slaves, they can choose obedience.
• Scripture uses the same language for the believer’s liberation in Christ—“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).
• Remembering slavery keeps pride in check and gratitude alive (Deuteronomy 6:12).
summaryExodus 20:2 is the preamble to God’s law. It reveals who commands (the self-existent LORD), whose relationship is at stake (your God), the historic rescue that proves His love (out of Egypt), and the total freedom He grants (from the house of slavery). Obedience, then, is not an attempt to earn favor but a grateful response to the God who has already acted with power and grace.
(2)
I am the Lord thy God.--The binding nature of commands upon the conscience depends upon the authority of the person who issues them. That there might be no dispute as to what the authority was in the case of the Decalogue, God prefaced the commands themselves by this distinct statement. By whomsoever they were communicated (see the first Note on
Exodus 20:1), they were the commands of Jehovah Himself.
Which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.--Thus exhibiting at once Almighty power and the tenderest compassion and care. God desires the obedience which springs from love, not fear.
Verse 2. -
I am the Lord thy God. The ten precepts were prefaced by this distinct announcement of who it was that uttered them. God would have the Israelites clearly understand, that he himself gave them the commandments. It is only possible to reconcile the declarations of the New Testament, that the law was given by the ministration of angels (
Acts 7:53;
Galatians 3:19;
Hebrews 2:2) with this and other plain statements, by regarding God the Son as the actual speaker. As
sent by his father, he too was, in a certain sense, an angel (
i.e., a messenger).
Whichbroughtthee out of the land of Egypt. God does not appeal to his authority as creator, but to his mercy and kindness as protector and deliverer. He would be obeyed by his people from a sentiment of love, not by fear.
Out of the house of bondage. Compare
Exodus 13:3, 14; and for the ground of the expression, see
Exodus 1:14;
Exodus 6:9.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
“Iאָֽנֹכִ֖י֙(’ā·nō·ḵî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595:Iam the LORDיְהוָ֣ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelyour God,אֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָ(’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativewhoאֲשֶׁ֧ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatbrought you outהוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ(hō·w·ṣê·ṯî·ḵā)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3318:To go, bring, out, direct and proximof the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץ(mê·’e·reṣ)Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776:Earth, landof Egypt,מִצְרַ֖יִם(miṣ·ra·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714:Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africaout of the houseמִבֵּ֣֥ית(mib·bêṯ)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004:A houseof slavery.עֲבָדִֽ֑ים׃(‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5650:Slave, servant
Links
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OT Law: Exodus 20:2 I am Yahweh your God who brought (Exo. Ex) 
