What is the meaning of Exodus 21:1? These are • God begins with a decisive identifier—“These.” By pointing to a specific body of teaching, He reminds Israel that His revelation is concrete, not fluid (Deuteronomy 4:1–2; Isaiah 40:8). • Just after the thunderous giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), the Lord now pivots from the general moral law to detailed applications. Scripture often pairs broad principles with practical follow-through (James 1:22–25). • Exodus 20:22–23 introduces this section: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘This is what you are to say to the Israelites…’ ”. The flow shows continuity—“these” statutes come from the same holy Author who spoke on Sinai. the ordinances • “Ordinances” (mishpatim) describes judgments or rulings meant to order community life. They show that God’s concern extends beyond worship into economics, family, and justice (Leviticus 18:4–5; Psalm 19:7–9). • Unlike pagan nations that shaped law around kings, Israel’s civil code springs from the character of God Himself (Psalm 99:4). • The coming verses address servants, violence, property, and social responsibility, illustrating how the second great command—“love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18)—plays out on the ground. that you are to set • The charge is personal: Moses must “set” these ordinances. Spiritual leaders are stewards, not originators (1 Corinthians 4:1–2). • Deuteronomy 4:5 echoes this task: “See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances… so that you may follow them”. Passing on truth intact is a sacred duty (2 Timothy 2:2). • “Set” implies intentional presentation—clarity, accessibility, and even public reading (Deuteronomy 31:11). God’s law is not to be hidden in academia but placed within reach of every household. before them • The ordinances are for “them”—the whole covenant community, from elders to day laborers. No one is above God’s standards (Exodus 18:20; Romans 2:11). • Putting the law “before” the people invites active response: hear, understand, obey (Joshua 24:15, 24). • Visible, communal law nurtures accountability. Psalm 119:30 celebrates this posture: “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me”. • Ultimately, the phrase anticipates Christ, the living Word placed openly before all (John 1:14; Hebrews 12:2), who fulfills the law and empowers His people to walk in it (Romans 8:4). summary Exodus 21:1 signals a shift from the grand proclamations of Sinai to the everyday details of covenant life. By identifying “these” specific directives, labeling them “ordinances,” commissioning Moses to “set” them, and placing them “before” the people, God shows that His righteous character governs every sphere. The verse reminds us that divine revelation is definite, comprehensive, faithfully delivered by called leaders, and designed for the practical obedience of the whole community. |
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