1

Exodus 20

(20:1)

1אלהים

(20:2)

(20:3)

This has always been a bit of a problem. Literally “before me” (position) – על־פניso see text critical note.2

Grammatical note = Prohibitive imperfect (shall not) or non-perfective of prohibition = imperfect preceded by לא “not”. Subject may not perform action – permanent prohibition of general nature. {RW – not a jussive! לא not אל} See Williams §173b.

(20:4)

hew, hew into shape” under BDB“ = פסל .idol, image” under BDB 820b“ = פסל820b.

.likeness, form” under BDB 568a“ = תמונה

Grammatical note = Preposition תחת from noun “what is underneath”. See Williams §348.

(20:6)

(20:7)

.emptiness, vanity” under BD 996a“ = שוא

.Piel “hold innocent, acquit” under BDB 667ab = נקה

(20:8)1 “Septuagint (and Vulgate) has κυριος ‘Lord’”. 2 “Septuagint (with Syriac, Targum, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan) has πλην εμου ‘except me’” (grammatical use of πλην? see Arndt-Gingrich 669a.

2

used as imperative.3 זכר infinitive absolute – זכור

.rest, settle down and remain” under BDB 628a“ = וינח – נוח

(20:10)

Grammatical note - Alternative ו (or) used to connect alternatives. See Williams §433.

4ויום...לא־תעשה

(20:12)

Grammatical note –Location על (on, over, above, at, beside). See Williams §286.

(20:13)5

.murder, slay” under BDB 953b“ = רצח

(20:14)

.commit adultery” under BDB 610b“ = נאף

Grammatical note = לא of prohibition (must not, shall not) indicates that subject of imperfect verb is prohibited from doing action (or being in state) expressed by that verb. See Williams §396.

(20:15)

(20:16)

3 “SamPent has שמור ‘keep, guard’” (so not just ‘remember’).4 “Papyrus Nash has וביום... לא־תעשה בה ‘and in/on the day… you will not do in/on it’ (see also Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac)”. There are several such differences with Papyrus Nash in Exodus 20:1-17.5 “Order of commandments is 14, 15, 13 in Septuagint, and 14, 13, 15 in Papyrus Nash, Philo, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9”.

3

deception, disappointment, falsehood” under BDB 1055a.6“ = שקר

.witness, testimony, evidence” under BDB 729b“ = עד

(20:17)

.desire, take pleasure in” under BDB 326a“ = חמד

7רעך

6 “Papyrus Nash reads שוא”.7 “Papyrus Nash, a few manuscripts, SamPent, Septuagint add שדהו ‘his field’”.