The Ten Commandments
At Mount Sinai, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone amid thunder, lightning, and the mountain smoking.
Exodus 19:1-25, Exodus 20:1-21
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The Story
Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the wilderness of Sinai and camped before the mountain. Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain.
'Tell the Israelites: You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'
The people answered together: 'We will do everything the Lord has said.'
God told Moses to consecrate the people and have them wash their clothes. On the third day, the Lord would come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all.
On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Moses led the people out to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire. The whole mountain trembled violently. The trumpet sound grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
Then God spoke these words:
'I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. You shall not covet.'
The people trembled with fear at the thunder, lightning, trumpet, and smoke. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.'
Moses said, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.'
Moses approached the thick darkness where God was, and God gave him laws for Israel—not just the Ten Commandments, but detailed instructions for justice, worship, and daily life. After forty days on the mountain, God gave Moses two tablets of stone, inscribed by the finger of God.
God's Ten Rules
Kids Version
After crossing the sea, the people traveled to a tall mountain called Sinai. God had something very important to give them.
God told Moses, 'Get the people ready. In three days, I'm coming down to the mountain!'
Everyone washed their clothes and waited.
On the third day—WOW! Thunder crashed! Lightning flashed! A thick cloud covered the mountain! A trumpet sound got louder and LOUDER! Smoke rose because God came down in FIRE! The whole mountain shook!
The people were scared! They stayed far away, trembling.
Then God spoke in a loud voice and gave ten special rules:
1. 'I am the Lord your God. Don't have any other gods.'
2. 'Don't make idols or worship statues.'
3. 'Don't use My name in a bad way.'
4. 'Remember the Sabbath—take one day to rest and worship.'
5. 'Honor your mom and dad.'
6. 'Don't murder.'
7. 'Husbands and wives must be faithful to each other.'
8. 'Don't steal.'
9. 'Don't lie.'
10. 'Don't wish you had other people's stuff.'
The first four rules are about loving GOD. The last six are about loving OTHER PEOPLE.
Moses went up the mountain and stayed for forty days! God wrote these rules on two flat stones with His own finger!
These rules weren't to make people unhappy. They were to help them live good, happy lives. When we follow God's rules, life works better!
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Scripture — Exodus 19:1-25 (KJV)
1In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
2For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
9And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
10And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
13There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. trumpet: or, cornet
14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
16And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
21And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. charge: Heb. contest
22And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
23And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
24And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
25So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
Memory Verse
“In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.”
— Exodus 19:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Ten Commandments” in the Bible?
At Mount Sinai, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone amid thunder, lightning, and the mountain smoking. This story is found in Exodus 19:1-25, Exodus 20:1-21.
Where is “The Ten Commandments” found in the Bible?
“The Ten Commandments” is found in Exodus 19:1-25, Exodus 20:1-21, in the book of Exodus.
What can children learn from “The Ten Commandments”?
This story teaches children about God's law, Holiness, Covenant relationship. At a mountain covered in smoke and fire, God gave Moses ten important rules written on stone tablets. These rules teach us to love God and love other people.