The Meaning of Exodus 20:2 Explained

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.

YLT: I am Jehovah thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of servants.

Darby: I am Jehovah thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

ASV: I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Exodus 20:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 20:1-17 - The "ten Words" Spoken At Sinai
The Law was given by the disposition of angels, through the medium of Moses. See John 1:17; Acts 7:53. It tells us, not what God is, for that is only shown in Jesus Christ, but what man should be. It combines in a concise form that moral code which is part of the nature of things, and is written on man's conscience. See Romans 2:5. Even the Fourth Commandment is deeply graven on our physical nature. These laws are mostly negative, but their positive side is stated in Matthew 5:1-48. For practical purposes this divine code consists of two divisions or tables; the first, of our duties toward God; the second, of those to man; but these are summed up in the one great law of love. See Mark 12:29-31; Romans 13:8-10 and Galatians 5:14. Our Lord Jesus stands surety for us at the bar of Sinai. By His righteousness imputed and imparted, by His obedience and death, by the gracious indwelling of His Spirit, He comes "not to destroy, but to fulfill." See Matthew 5:17; Romans 8:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 20

1  The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah
18  The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them
21  Idolatry is forbidden
23  Of what sort the altar should be

What do the individual words in Exodus 20:2 mean?

I [am] Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage
אָֽנֹכִ֖י֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣֥ית עֲבָדִֽ֑ים

יְהוָ֣ה  [am]  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ  brought  you 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מֵאֶ֥רֶץ  out  of  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מִצְרַ֖יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
מִבֵּ֣֥ית  out  of  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
עֲבָדִֽ֑ים  of  bondage 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.