## Exodus Chapter 20

###### Exodus 20:1
[Exodus 20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:1)

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֵ֛ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לֵאמֹֽר׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Elohim spoke all these words, saying:

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And God spoke all these words, saying,

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And G-d [Elokim, the Judge, "exacting payment" (for all of the ten commandments, unlike some other sections in the Torah, where performance is rewarded, but non-performance not punished)] spoke all of these things [miraculously, in one utterance (after which He reiterated each commandment individually)] saying, [i.e., the people responding in the affirmative or in the negative as per the nature of the commandment]:


###### Exodus 20:2
[Exodus 20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:2)

אָֽנֹכִ֖י֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣֥ית עֲבָדִ֑͏ֽים׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
I am Adonoy, your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
I am the Lord thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Miżrayim, out of the house of bondage.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
I am the L-rd your G-d who took you out of the land of Egypt [Having taken you out is sufficient reason that you be subservient to Me.] ("your [singular] G-d") [an opening for Moses to plead for Israel in the episode of the golden calf, viz.: "You said this ("your G-d") to me, not to them!"] from the house of [Pharaoh, to whom you were] servants.


###### Exodus 20:3
[Exodus 20:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:3)

לֹֽ֣א־יִהְיֶ֥͏ֽה־לְךָ֛֩ אֱלֹהִ֥֨ים אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים עַל־פָּנָֽ͏ַ֗י׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You must not have any other gods before My Presence.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt have no other gods beside me.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
There shall not be unto you [(You may not keep them even if you do not make them)] gods of [i.e., made by] others before My presence [i.e., idolatry is interdicted not for this generation alone but eternally (just as I am eternally present)].


###### Exodus 20:4
[Exodus 20:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:4)

לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶֽׂ֨ה־לְךָ֥֣ פֶ֣֙סֶל֙׀וְכׇל־תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙׀מִמַּ֔֡עַל וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ מִתָּ֑͏ַ֜חַת וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּמַּ֖֣יִם**׀** מִתַּ֥֣חַת לָאָֽ֗רֶץ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You must not make for yourself any carved image, or picture of anything that is in the heaven above, or on the earth below, or in the water below the earth.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt not make for thyself any carved idol, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not make for yourself a graven image or the likeness of anything which is in the heavens above or in the earth below, or in the waters beneath the earth.


###### Exodus 20:5
[Exodus 20:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:5)

לֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥֣ה לָהֶ֖ם֮ וְלֹ֣א תׇעׇבְדֵ֑ם֒ כִּ֣י אָֽנֹכִ֞י יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵ֣ל קַנָּ֔א פֹּ֠קֵ֠ד עֲוֺ֨ן אָבֹ֧ת עַל־בָּנִ֛ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִ֖ים לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You must not prostrate yourself to them, and you must not worship them. For I, Adonoy your God, am a jealous Almighty. I am cognizant of the sins of fathers for [their] children, to the third and fourth [generations] of My enemies.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, punishing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of those that hate me;

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not bow down to them and you shall not serve them, for I am the L-rd your G-d, a jealous G-d, ["jealous" to exact punishment, and not "overlooking" idolatry], visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children, for the third and the fourth generations to those who hate Me, [those who perpetuate their fathers' ways],


###### Exodus 20:6
[Exodus 20:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:6)

וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לְאֹהֲבַ֖י וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י מִצְוֺתָֽי׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
But I do [acts of] loving kindness for thousands [of generations] to those who love Me and preserve My commandments.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
but showing mercy to thousands of generations of those that love me, and keep my commandments.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And doing lovingkindness [i.e., "guarding" the lovingkindness that a man does, to reward him] for thousands [of generations], for My lovers and the keepers of My mitzvoth, [whence (5 and 6) it is seen that G-d's "measure" of reward is greater than His measure for punishment].


###### Exodus 20:7
[Exodus 20:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:7)

לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לַשָּֽׁוְא׃{פ}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not take the Name of Adonoy, your God in vain. For Adonoy will not acquit the one who takes His Name in vain.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not take the name of the L-rd your G-d in vain [by swearing at variance with what is known, e.g., that a pillar of stone is one of gold], for the L-rd will not absolve him who takes His name in vain.


###### Exodus 20:8
[Exodus 20:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:8)

זָכ֛וֹר֩ אֶת־י֥֨וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Have [always] in remembrance the Sabbath day [("Remember" and "Keep" (Deuteronomy 5:12) were stated in one pronouncement)] to set it apart [i.e., If you chance upon something specially fine, set it apart for the Sabbath].


###### Exodus 20:9
[Exodus 20:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:9)

שֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ כׇּֿל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
You may work six days, and do all your work.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Six days shall you work, and you shall do all of your labor [i.e., When Shabbath arrives, let it be in your eyes as if all your labor has been done and give it no thought.]


###### Exodus 20:10
[Exodus 20:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:10)

וְי֨וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת**׀** לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֣֨ה כׇל־מְלָאכָ֜֡ה אַתָּ֣ה**׀** וּבִנְךָ֣͏ֽ־וּ֠בִתֶּ֗ךָ עַבְדְּךָ֤֨ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ וְגֵרְךָ֖֙ אֲשֶׁ֥֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
But the seventh day is Shabbos to Adonoy, your God. You must not do any manner of work—you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maid, your animal, and the foreigner within your gates.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the seventh day is Sabbath to the L-rd your G-d. You shall not perform any labor: you, and your son, and your daughter [minors — parents being exhorted vis-à-vis their young children], your man-servant, and your maid-servant, and your beast, and your sojourner in your gates.


###### Exodus 20:11
[Exodus 20:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:11)

כִּ֣י שֵֽׁשֶׁת־יָמִים֩ עָשָׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־הַיָּם֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֔ם וַיָּ֖נַח בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֗ן בֵּרַ֧ךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת וַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
For in six days Adonoy made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore Adonoy blessed the Shabbos and made it holy.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day: therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For, six days did the L-rd make the heavens and the earth, the seas and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. [How much more so, then, must we — who feel toil — rest on that day!] Therefore, the L-rd blessed the Sabbath day [by providing a double portion of manna on the sixth day], and He sanctified it [by not having the manna fall on the Sabbath].


###### Exodus 20:12
[Exodus 20:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:12)

כַּבֵּ֥ד אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּ֑ךָ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יַאֲרִכ֣וּן יָמֶ֔יךָ עַ֚ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be lengthened upon the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God gives thee.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Honor your father and your mother so that your days be prolonged on the earth that the L-rd your G-d gives to you, [the implication being that if you do not honor them your days will be shortened.]


###### Exodus 20:13
[Exodus 20:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:13)

לֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָ֖͏ֽח׃{ס}לֹ֣֖א תִּֿנְאָ֑͏ֽף׃{ס}לֹ֣֖א תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃{ס}לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not commit murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal [by kidnapping human beings]. Do not testify as a false witness against your neighbor.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal [a human being, i.e., kidnap]. You shall not testify against your neighbor false testimony.


###### Exodus 20:14
[Exodus 20:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:14)

לֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ד בֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ{ס}לֹֽא־תַחְמֹ֞ד אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֶ֗ךָ וְעַבְדּ֤וֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ֙ וְשׁוֹר֣וֹ וַחֲמֹר֔וֹ וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְרֵעֶֽךָ׃{פ}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his slave, his maid, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, and his man-servant, and his maid-servant, and his ox and his ass, and all that belongs to your neighbor.


###### Exodus 20:15
[Exodus 20:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:15)

וְכׇל־הָעָם֩ רֹאִ֨ים אֶת־הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת וְאֶת־הַלַּפִּידִ֗ם וְאֵת֙ ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וְאֶת־הָהָ֖ר עָשֵׁ֑ן וַיַּ֤רְא הָעָם֙ וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ מֵֽרָחֹֽק׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
All the people saw the sounds, the flames, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain emitting smoke. The people saw [all this] and they trembled, and stood far off.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they were shaken, and stood afar off.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And all the people saw [(whence we derive that there were no blind ones among them)] ["saw" miraculously] the sounds [emanating from the Mighty One's mouth], and the lightnings, and the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. And the people saw and they shuddered, and they stood far off. [(They recoiled twelve mil, the distance of their encampment, and ministering angels came and restored them)]


###### Exodus 20:16
[Exodus 20:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:16)

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה דַּבֵּר־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְנִשְׁמָ֑עָה וְאַל־יְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמָּ֛נוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים פֶּן־נָמֽוּת׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
They said to Moshe, “You speak to us and we will listen. Let Elohim not speak with us [anymore] lest we die.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And they said to Moshe, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And they said to Moses: Speak, you with us, and we shall hear; and let G-d not speak with us, lest we die.


###### Exodus 20:17
[Exodus 20:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:17)

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶל־הָעָם֮ אַל־תִּירָ֒אוּ֒ כִּ֗י לְבַֽעֲבוּר֙ נַסּ֣וֹת אֶתְכֶ֔ם בָּ֖א הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבַעֲב֗וּר תִּהְיֶ֧ה יִרְאָת֛וֹ עַל־פְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י תֶחֱטָֽאוּ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Moshe said to the people, “Do not be afraid. It was to exalt you that Elohim came [in this manner], so that the fear of Him be on your faces that you not sin.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And Moshe said to the people, Fear not: for God is come to test you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that you sin not.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Moses said to the people: Do not fear, for to uplift you has G-d come and so that His fear [engendered by beholding His awe] be upon your faces, that you not sin.


###### Exodus 20:18
[Exodus 20:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:18)

וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הָעָ֖ם מֵרָחֹ֑ק וּמֹשֶׁה֙ נִגַּ֣שׁ אֶל־הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃{ס}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The people stood far off. Moshe drew near to the dense cloud where [the Divine Presence of] God was.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And the people stood afar off, and Moshe drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the people stood from afar, and Moses drew near [within the three divisions: "darkness, cloud, and mist" (Deuteronomy 4:11)] to the mist [the "thickness of the cloud" (19:9)], where G-d was.


###### Exodus 20:19
[Exodus 20:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:19)

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֹּ֥ה תֹאמַ֖ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם כִּ֚י מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי עִמָּכֶֽם׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Adonoy said to Moshe, “This is what you must say to the Bnei Yisrael. ‘You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And the Lord said to Moshe, Thus thou shalt say to the children of Yisra᾽el, You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the L-rd said to Moses: Thus shall you say to the children of Israel: You saw [with your own eyes] that from the heavens I spoke to you ["to exhort you, and on the earth He showed you His great fire" (Deuteronomy 4:36)]


###### Exodus 20:20
[Exodus 20:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:20)

לֹ֥א תַעֲשׂ֖וּן אִתִּ֑י אֱלֹ֤הֵי כֶ֙סֶף֙ וֵאלֹהֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב לֹ֥א תַעֲשׂ֖וּ לָכֶֽם׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not make[an image of anything that is] with Me, gods of silver or gods of gold you must not make for yourselves.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
You shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
You shall not make [likenesses of those (the angels) who minister] unto Me. Gods of silver [(If you make the cherubs who "stand with Me" of silver (instead of the prescribed gold), they will be considered "gods" (i.e., idols)], and gods of gold [(If you make more than two cherubs of gold, they will be considered "gods")], do not make for yourselves [i.e., in your synagogues and study halls, as I have bidden you make in the Temple].


###### Exodus 20:21
[Exodus 20:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:21)

מִזְבַּ֣ח אֲדָמָה֮ תַּעֲשֶׂה־לִּי֒ וְזָבַחְתָּ֣ עָלָ֗יו אֶת־עֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ וְאֶת־שְׁלָמֶ֔יךָ אֶת־צֹֽאנְךָ֖ וְאֶת־בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ בְּכׇל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַזְכִּ֣יר אֶת־שְׁמִ֔י אָב֥וֹא אֵלֶ֖יךָ וּבֵרַכְתִּֽיךָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Make an earthen altar for Me and slaughter your burnt-offerings near it, your peace-offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place wherever I permit My Name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
An altar of earth thou shalt make to me, and thou shalt sacrifice on it thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thy oxen: in all places where I cause my name to be pronounced, I will come to thee, and I will bless thee.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
An altar [fixed upon the] earth shall you make for Me, [i.e., in My name], and you shall slaughter beside it your burnt-offerings and your peace-offerings, [which come from] your flocks and your herds. Wherever I [permit you to] mention My name [i.e., in the Temple, where the Cohanim are authorized to utter the Ineffable Name in the priestly blessing], I shall come to you, [i.e., there shall I repose My shechinah] and I shall bless you.


###### Exodus 20:22
[Exodus 20:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:22)

וְאִם־מִזְבַּ֤ח אֲבָנִים֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֔י לֹֽא־תִבְנֶ֥ה אֶתְהֶ֖ן גָּזִ֑ית כִּ֧י חַרְבְּךָ֛ הֵנַ֥פְתָּ עָלֶ֖יהָ וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
When you build a stone altar for Me, do not build it out of hewn stone, lest you lift your sword on it, you will [therewith] have profaned it.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast defiled it.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And when you make an altar of stones unto Me, do not build them hewn, for if you lift your sword upon it, you profane it [(the altar being created to prolong life, and the sword, to shorten it)].


###### Exodus 20:23
[Exodus 20:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Exodus/r/20:23)

וְלֹֽא־תַעֲלֶ֥ה בְמַעֲלֹ֖ת עַֽל־מִזְבְּחִ֑י אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־תִגָּלֶ֥ה עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ עָלָֽיו׃{פ}

**Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not go up to My altar with steps, so that your nakedness not be revealed on it.’”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Neither shalt thou go up by steps to my altar, that thy nakedness be not exposed on it.

**The Rashi chumash by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And do not go up by steps, [but by a smooth ramp] upon My altar, so that your nakedness not be revealed upon it [by your having to take (relatively) long strides].