Exodus 20:4

• §2056Section Two · The Ten CommandmentsRead at vatican.va

  The word "Decalogue" means literally "ten words." God revealed these "ten words" to his people

Origen

• Origen, Against Celsus V.6Book V

  “…anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them,” worship nothing else than the Supreme God, who made the heavens, and all things besides.” — editor's note: Cf. Ex. xx. 3, 4, 5.

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• Origen, Against Celsus VII.64Book VII

  “…that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them;” and again, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”” — editor's note: Ex. xx. 3, 4.

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Tertullian

• Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews Chapter 10

  “Why, again, did the same Moses, after the prohibition of any “likeness of anything,” set forth a brazen serpent, placed on a “tree,” in a hanging posture, for a spectacle of healing to Israel, at the time when, after their idolatry, they were…” — editor's note: Ex. xx. 4.

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• Tertullian, On Idolatry Chapter 4

  “For this cause—the eradicating, namely, of the material of idolatry—the divine law proclaims, “Thou shalt make no idol;” and by conjoining, “Nor a similitude of the things which are in the heaven, and which are in the earth, and which are in the sea,” has interdicted the servants…” — editor's note: Lev. xxvi. 1; Ex. xx. 4; Deut. v. 8. It must of course be borne in mind that Tertullian has defined the meaning of the word idol in the former chapter, and…

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• Tertullian, On Idolatry Chapter 5

  “If you reverence the same God, you have His law, “Thou shalt make no similitude.”” — editor's note: Ex. xx. 4, etc. [The absurd “brazen serpent” which I have seen in the Church of St. Ambrose, in Milan, is with brazen hardihood affirmed to be the identical…

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John Cassian

• John Cassian, Conferences I–X VIII.23Conference VIII

  “…“Thou shalt do no murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness; Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife,” and many other things besides, in which they anticipated the commands not only of the law but even of the gospel?” — editor's note: Exod. xx. 4–17.

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Cyprian of Carthage

• Cyprian of Carthage, Exhortation to Martyrdom, Addressed to Fortunatus Chapter 2

  “In Exodus also: “Thou shalt not make to thee an idol, nor the likeness of anything.”” — editor's note: Ex. xx. 4.

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• Cyprian of Carthage, Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.60Book III

  “And again: “Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor the likeness of any thing.”” — editor's note: Ex. xx. 4. This section closes here, according to the Oxford text. The Leipzic edition continues as in the above reading.

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Clement of Alexandria

• Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Chapter 4

  “For we are expressly prohibited from exercising a deceptive art: “For thou shalt not make,” says the prophet, “the likeness of anything which is in heaven above or in the earth beneath.”” — editor's note: Ex. xx. 4. [Clement even regards the art of painters and sculptors as unlawful for Christians.]

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Augustine of Hippo

• Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 75

  “That people received the Law, they received commandments just and good.” — editor's note: Exod. xx. 1–17.

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• Augustine of Hippo, Harmony of the Gospels I.26Book I

  ““Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath.”” — editor's note: Exod. xx. 4.

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• Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 3

  “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”” — editor's note: Ex. xx. 3–17.

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Parallel passages

• Deuteronomy 5:8

  Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8 share the same wording (18 words).

Cited together with

• Exodus 23:24

  Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels I.26.

• Leviticus 26:1

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Deuteronomy 4:19

  Cited together in Against Celsus V.6.

• Deuteronomy 5:8

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Deuteronomy 6:13

  Cited together in Against Celsus VII.64.

• 2 Samuel 16:7

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• 2 Kings 18:4

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 5.

• Psalm 5:6

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Psalm 26:9

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Psalm 55:23

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Psalm 115:8

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Isaiah 44:8

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Jeremiah 16:19

  Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels I.26.

• Ezekiel 22:2

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 4.

• Matthew 4:10

  Cited together in Against Celsus VII.64.

• 1 Corinthians 7:20

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 5.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 5.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:7

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 5.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:9

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 5.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:11

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 5.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:12

  Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 5.