What does the Ten Commandments say?
BREAKDOWN
The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue (from Greek: δέκα λόγοι, *deka logoi*, meaning 'ten words'), are a set of divine laws given by God to the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai. These commandments, recorded primarily in Exodus 20:1-17 and reiterated in Deuteronomy 5:6-21, form the foundational ethical and moral framework for the nation of Israel and carry profound implications for all humanity. They are typically divided into two tables: the first addresses humanity's duties towards God, and the second addresses duties towards fellow human beings. The first table includes commandments regarding monotheism and proper worship: (1) 'You shall have no other gods before me' (Exodus 20:3), emphasizing exclusive allegiance to the one true God; (2) 'You shall not make for yourselves an idol... you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them' (Exodus 20:4-5), forbidding idolatry and false worship; (3) 'You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God' (Exodus 20:7), demanding reverence for God's holy name; and (4) 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy' (Exodus 20:8), instituting a day of rest and worship. The second table governs human relationships: (5) 'Honor your father and your mother' (Exodus 20:12), establishing respect for parental authority and societal order; (6) 'You shall not murder' (Exodus 20:13), safeguarding human life; (7) 'You shall not commit adultery' (Exodus 20:14), protecting the sanctity of marriage and family; (8) 'You shall not steal' (Exodus 20:15), upholding private property and economic justice; (9) 'You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor' (Exodus 20:16), requiring truthfulness and integrity; and (10) 'You shall not covet' (Exodus 20:17), addressing the inner desires and the root of many external sins. These commandments, while part of the Mosaic Covenant, are understood in Christian theology to reflect the eternal moral law of God, summarized by Jesus in the two great commandments to love God and love one's neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).
KEY TERMS
Decalogue
From Greek 'deka logoi' (ten words), referring to the Ten Commandments.
Mount Sinai
The mountain where God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.
Mosaic Covenant
The covenant established between God and the Israelites through Moses, of which the Ten Commandments are a core part.
Idolatry
The worship of idols or any created thing rather than the one true God.
Covet
To desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Exodus 20:1-17
God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 'You shall have no other gods before me. 'You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 'You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy. 'Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. 'You shall not murder. 'You shall not commit adultery. 'You shall not steal. 'You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'
Deuteronomy 5:6-21
'I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 'You shall have no other gods before me. 'You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 'You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God in vain; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. 'Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. In it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a strong hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. 'Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. 'You shall not murder. 'You shall not commit adultery. 'You shall not steal. 'You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. Neither shall you covet your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.
INTERLINEAR ANALYSIS
Interlinear Hebrew
Exodus 20:1-17ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
δέκα λόγοι
Decalogue
DefinitionTen words or sayings
אֱלֹהִים
God
DefinitionGod, gods, judges
יְהוָה
Yahweh
DefinitionThe Lord, the personal name of God
שָׁוְא
Misuse
Definitionemptiness, vanity, falsehood, worthlessness
חָמַד
Covet
Definitionto desire, take pleasure in, covet
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The giving of the Ten Commandments occurred around the 13th-15th century BCE, a period often associated with the Late Bronze Age. Following their miraculous liberation from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites, led by Moses, journeyed through the wilderness to Mount Sinai. This event marked the formal establishment of the Mosaic Covenant, transforming a disparate group of freed slaves into a nation under divine law. Archaeologically, the Sinai Peninsula is a rugged, arid region, and the precise location of Mount Sinai (Horeb) remains debated, with Jabal Musa being a traditional candidate. The cultural context was a polytheistic ancient Near East, where many peoples worshipped multiple deities and often engaged in cultic practices involving idols and syncretism. Against this backdrop, the Decalogue's insistence on exclusive monotheism and ethical purity was revolutionary, setting Israel apart from its neighbors. The covenant was solemnized through a dramatic display of God's presence at Sinai, involving thunder, lightning, smoke, and a trumpet sound (Exodus 19). The laws were inscribed on two stone tablets, symbolizing their enduring and immutable nature.
THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT
Theologically, the Ten Commandments are not merely a set of legalistic prohibitions but a revelation of God's character and His perfect will for humanity. They embody the foundational principles of righteousness and justice. For ancient Israel, they served as the constitution of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, outlining how they were to live as His chosen people, distinct from the pagan nations. In Christian theology, the Decalogue is understood as the moral law, which is eternal and unchanging. While Christians are not under the Mosaic Law as a means of salvation (Galatians 3:24-25), the Ten Commandments illuminate sin (Romans 3:20) and guide believers in living a life pleasing to God, being a standard for sanctification. Jesus affirmed and intensified the commandments, teaching that their essence lies in love for God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40), indicating that true obedience extends beyond external acts to the motivations of the heart.
COMMENTARY SYNTHESIS
Rashi (Jewish)
Rashi emphasizes that the commandments given at Sinai were heard by all Israel directly from God, indicating their supreme importance and universal binding nature for the covenant community. He often elaborates on the practical implications of each commandment for daily life in ancient Israel.
Maimonides (Rambam) (Jewish)
Maimonides, in his 'Mishneh Torah,' categorizes the commandments into positive and negative precepts. He views the Decalogue as the fundamental principles from which all other 613 Mitzvot (commandments) derive, asserting that true wisdom lies in understanding and fulfilling them.
John Calvin (Christian)
Calvin highlights the Decalogue as a perfect summary of God's moral law, divided into 'two tables,' reflecting love for God and love for neighbor. He asserts that the law serves to show humanity their sin, to restrain wickedness in society, and to guide believers in living righteously, even though justification comes by grace through faith.
Matthew Henry (Christian)
Henry's commentary often stresses the comprehensiveness and spiritual depth of the commandments. For example, regarding 'You shall not covet,' he notes that this commandment delves into the heart's desires, revealing that sin begins internally, distinguishing God's law from mere human legal codes which primarily address external actions.
Augustine of Hippo (Christian)
Augustine argued that the entire Law is summarized by love. He believed that the Ten Commandments, particularly the prohibition against coveting, revealed the depth of human depravity and the need for divine grace to truly fulfill the law's spirit, not just its letter. He saw them as guiding principles for a righteous life.