Bible Verses for the 10 Commandments: Full Passages

The Ten Commandments appear in two primary biblical passages: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21, where God establishes foundational principles for humanity’s relationship with Him and others. These divine directives encompass monotheistic worship, prohibition of idolatry, reverent speech, Sabbath observance, parental honor, sanctity of life, marital fidelity, property protection, truthful testimony, and overcoming covetousness. Jesus references these commandments throughout the New Testament, particularly in Matthew 22:37-39 when identifying the greatest commandment. Understanding their original context and contemporary application reveals deeper theological truths about divine-human relationships.

Key Takeaways

• The Ten Commandments appear in full in Exodus 20:1-17 and are repeated in Deuteronomy 5:4-21.
• The first four commandments establish proper relationship with God: exclusive worship, no idols, reverent speech, and Sabbath observance.
• The remaining six commandments govern human relationships: honoring parents, preserving life, marital fidelity, honest dealings, truthful speech, and contentment.
• Jesus summarized the commandments by citing Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as the greatest commandment to love God completely.
• New Testament passages like Matthew 5:21-48 and Ephesians 6:1-4 expand on the commandments’ deeper spiritual meanings.

First Commandment: You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me

When God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, the first commandment established the fundamental principle of monotheistic worship: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, ESV). This directive establishes Yahweh’s supremacy and demands exclusive devotion from His people.

The first commandment establishes God’s absolute authority, demanding that His people worship Him alone above all other deities.

The Hebrew phrase “before me” (al-panai) literally means “in my presence” or “to my face,” emphasizing that no rival deities can coexist with God’s authority. This commandment directly addresses the polytheistic context of ancient Israel, where surrounding nations practiced idolatry.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 reinforces this concept: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You’ll love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Jesus referenced this passage when identifying the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).

Worshiping false gods through idols represents a fundamental breach of covenant relationship, as demonstrated throughout Israel’s history when they pursued Baal, Asherah, and other deities.

Second Commandment: You Shall Not Make Idols or Graven Images

You’ll find that the Second Commandment extends beyond physical statues to encompass any created thing that replaces God’s rightful position in your heart (Exodus 20:4-6, Deuteronomy 5:8-10).

Scripture reveals that idolatry manifests when you elevate money, career, relationships, or even religious practices above your devotion to God, making them functional gods in your life (Colossians 3:5, 1 John 5:21).

Paul’s warning to the Colossians explicitly identifies covetousness as idolatry, demonstrating how subtle modern idols can infiltrate your spiritual priorities without obvious religious imagery.

What Constitutes Idolatry

How does the second commandment’s prohibition against idolatry extend beyond the creation of physical statues to encompass broader spiritual principles? You’ll find that idolatry encompasses any practice where created things receive worship due solely to God.

Improper worship practices include venerating money, career success, or relationships as ultimate sources of meaning (Colossians 3:5). The apostle Paul identifies greed as idolatry, demonstrating how excessive material desires constitute spiritual adultery against God. When you prioritize anything above your relationship with the Creator, you’ve constructed an idol within your heart.

This broader understanding connects to Jesus’s teaching about serving two masters (Matthew 6:24) and John’s warning to “keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21), emphasizing idolatry’s contemporary relevance.

Modern Day Idols

Materialism as idolatry manifests through consumer culture’s relentless pursuit of possessions, wealth, and status symbols. You’re witnessing what Paul described in Colossians 3:5, identifying greed as idolatry.

Modern idols include career advancement, financial security, and luxury goods that replace God’s rightful position. These contemporary forms require the same spiritual vigilance ancient Israelites needed when confronting Baal worship and pagan shrines.

Third Commandment: You Shall Not Take the Lord’s Name in Vain

The third commandment, found in Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11, declares “You shan’t take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord won’t hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” This prohibition extends far beyond casual profanity or careless oaths, encompassing any misuse of God’s sacred name that diminishes His holiness or authority.

When God’s name is misused through empty promises, false prophecies, or manipulative religious rhetoric, it violates this commandment’s core principle. The Hebrew word “shav” translates to “emptiness” or “worthlessness,” indicating that using God’s name without proper substance or intent constitutes transgression.

Scripture reinforces this reverence through Leviticus 19:12: “You shan’t swear falsely by my name, so as to profane the name of your God.” Matthew 6:9 demonstrates proper prayerful reverence: “Hallowed be your name.” You’re called to honor God’s name through truthful speech, genuine worship, and authentic representation of His character in your daily conduct.

Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day and Keep It Holy

While honoring God’s name through reverent speech establishes proper worship attitudes, Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15 expand this reverence into dedicated time through the fourth commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” God’s directive to “remember” (Hebrew “zakor”) implies active, intentional commemoration rather than passive acknowledgment, establishing a weekly rhythm that mirrors divine creation patterns.

The Exodus account grounds Sabbath observance in creation theology, where God rested on the seventh day and blessed it. Deuteronomy’s version emphasizes Israel’s liberation from Egyptian bondage, making Sabbath both creation celebration and freedom commemoration. The Hebrew “qadash” (keep holy) means to set apart for sacred purposes, transforming ordinary time into consecrated space.

This commandment uniquely addresses time rather than relationships or possessions. Weekly worship becomes humanity’s participation in divine rest, while honoring the sabbath acknowledges God’s sovereignty over temporal existence. Both passages emphasize cessation from labor, extending this privilege to servants, animals, and foreigners—demonstrating God’s universal care.

Fifth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Your Mother

Moving from sacred time to sacred relationships, Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16 establish the fifth commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.” This directive uniquely bridges vertical duties to God and horizontal obligations to humanity, positioning parental honor as foundational to covenant community.

The Hebrew word “kabod” (honor) implies weightiness and respect, extending beyond mere obedience to encompass care and reverence. Deuteronomy 5:16 adds the promise “that your days may be long,” connecting parental honor with divine blessing and societal stability.

This commandment addresses parental responsibilities reciprocally—while children honor parents, parents must merit respect through godly leadership. Ephesians 6:1-4 balances children’s obedience with fathers avoiding provocation. Honoring elders preserves wisdom transmission and maintains covenant continuity across generations.

The principle encompasses physical care (1 Timothy 5:4), emotional respect, and spiritual acknowledgment of authority structures that reflect God’s order within family and community relationships.

Sixth Commandment: You Shall Not Murder

You’ll discover that the sixth commandment’s Hebrew term “ratsach” carries specific theological weight, distinguishing unlawful killing from authorized acts like warfare or capital punishment found elsewhere in Scripture (Numbers 35:16-21, Romans 13:4). Scripture establishes life’s inherent sanctity through humanity’s creation in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), making this commandment foundational to biblical ethics and extending beyond physical murder to include hatred and anger (Matthew 5:21-22, 1 John 3:15).

Your understanding must encompass how this principle applies to contemporary issues including abortion, euthanasia, and self-defense, requiring careful exegesis of supporting passages like Psalm 139:13-16 and Ecclesiastes 3:2.

Biblical Definition of Murder

The Hebrew term *ratsach*, translated as “murder” in the sixth commandment, carries specific legal and moral distinctions that separate it from other forms of killing found throughout Scripture. You’ll discover that *ratsach* refers specifically to unlawful, premeditated killing driven by malice, hatred, or personal vengeance—actions stemming from humanity’s sinful nature.

This term doesn’t encompass capital punishment (Numbers 35:16-21), warfare commanded by God (Deuteronomy 20:1-4), or accidental death (Deuteronomy 19:4-6). When you examine cross-references like Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus expands this commandment beyond physical murder to include anger and hatred in one’s heart.

Understanding *ratsach* helps you pursue righteous living by recognizing that God values human life as sacred, created in His image (Genesis 1:27).

Life’s Sacred Value

Since God created humanity in His own image (Genesis 1:27), every human life possesses inherent dignity and sacred worth that transcends cultural, social, or circumstantial considerations. This fundamental principle establishes the theological foundation for human dignity, making each person uniquely valuable regardless of their circumstances. The sanctity of life isn’t determined by human achievement, social status, or perceived usefulness, but by divine imprint upon humanity.

Scripture consistently reinforces this concept throughout both Testaments. Psalm 139:13-16 reveals God’s intimate involvement in human formation, while James 3:9 warns against cursing those “made in God’s likeness.” You’ll find that understanding life’s sacred value transforms how you view relationships, conflicts, and social justice issues. This divine perspective calls you to protect, honor, and cherish human life in all circumstances.

Modern Application Examples

Contemporary society presents numerous complex scenarios where the sixth commandment’s prohibition against murder requires careful ethical consideration beyond obvious cases of homicide. You’ll encounter debates surrounding end-of-life care, where family dynamics often influence decisions about withdrawing life support or physician-assisted suicide. These situations demand you weigh biblical principles against medical ethics and compassionate care.

Societal influences also shape how you interpret this commandment regarding abortion, capital punishment, and just war theory. You must consider whether defensive violence violates God’s design for human life, examining passages like Romans 13:1-7 alongside Matthew 5:39. Modern bioethics forces you to grapple with embryonic research, genetic manipulation, and artificial life support, requiring careful study of Scripture’s teachings about humanity’s image-bearing nature and God’s sovereignty over life and death.

Seventh Commandment: You Shall Not Commit Adultery

How does the seventh commandment, “You shan’t commit adultery,” extend beyond mere sexual misconduct to encompass the broader biblical understanding of covenant faithfulness?

Scripture interprets adultery through multiple dimensions. Physical adultery violates the marriage covenant (Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18), while Jesus expands this understanding to include lustful thoughts (Matthew 5:27-28). Emotional adultery emerges when you direct intimate affections toward someone other than your spouse, breaching relational boundaries even without physical contact.

The Hebrew prophets frequently employ adultery metaphorically, describing Israel’s unfaithfulness to God as spiritual adultery (Hosea 2:2-13, Jeremiah 3:8-9). This parallel reveals covenant faithfulness as the commandment’s core principle. Paul reinforces marital fidelity in Ephesians 5:25-33, presenting marriage as reflecting Christ’s relationship with the church.

Proverbs 6:32-35 warns of adultery’s destructive consequences, while Hebrews 13:4 declares marriage honorable and the bed undefiled. These passages demonstrate that covenant faithfulness—whether to spouse or God—requires wholehearted commitment transcending mere behavioral compliance.

Eighth Commandment: You Shall Not Steal

Just as covenant faithfulness forms the foundation of marital relationships, it also governs our relationship with others’ possessions and livelihood. The eighth commandment establishes God’s framework for protecting personal property and economic justice within the covenant community.

Exodus 20:15 presents the foundational prohibition: “You shan’t steal.” This concise directive encompasses theft, fraud, and any form of dishonest gain. Leviticus 19:11 expands this principle: “You shan’t steal; you shan’t deal falsely; you shan’t lie to one another.” The commandment extends beyond simple theft to include deceptive business practices and exploitation.

Respecting others’ belongings reflects deeper theological truths about divine ownership and human stewardship. Ephesians 4:28 transforms this prohibition into positive action: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”

Ninth Commandment: You Shall Not Bear False Witness

While the previous commandments protect physical property and relationships, the ninth commandment safeguards something equally precious: truth itself and the reputation of others. When you examine Exodus 20:16, “You shan’t bear false witness against your neighbor,” you’re encountering God’s protection of justice and community trust.

The Hebrew term “sheqer” encompasses all forms of false speech, from perjury in legal proceedings to everyday deception. This commandment originally addressed courtroom testimony, where lying behavior could result in innocent people’s death or wrongful punishment (Deuteronomy 19:16-21).

However, Scripture expands this principle beyond legal contexts. Proverbs 19:9 warns that “a false witness won’t go unpunished,” while Ephesians 4:25 instructs believers to “put away falsehood” and “speak truth with your neighbor.” Jesus himself declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), establishing truth as fundamental to divine character and Christian discipleship.

Tenth Commandment: You Shall Not Covet

The tenth commandment addresses covetousness—an inward desire for what belongs to another—distinguishing it from other commandments by focusing on heart attitude rather than outward action (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21).

You’ll find Scripture presents compelling cases of covetous behavior, from Achan’s theft at Jericho (Joshua 7:20-21) to the rich young ruler’s attachment to possessions (Matthew 19:16-22), demonstrating how unchecked desire leads to spiritual and moral failure.

Paul’s teachings in Philippians 4:11-13 and 1 Timothy 6:6-10 provide biblical strategies for cultivating contentment and transforming covetous hearts through Christ’s sufficiency.

What Is Coveting?

Although the tenth commandment appears deceptively simple, coveting represents one of Scripture’s most complex moral prohibitions because it addresses the heart’s desires rather than external actions. Coveting encompasses wrongful desire for possessions belonging to others, extending beyond mere appreciation to sinful longing. This Hebrew term “chamad” indicates intense craving that consumes one’s thoughts and motivates potential wrongdoing.

Scripture distinguishes between legitimate desires and covetous jealousy of others. Romans 7:7 reveals coveting’s insidious nature, as Paul wouldn’t have recognized sin without the law’s prohibition. Coveting breeds discontent, erodes gratitude, and ultimately challenges God’s sovereignty over distribution of blessings.

James 4:2 connects coveting to quarrels and conflicts, demonstrating how internal desires manifest externally. Understanding coveting requires examining motivations behind our longings.

Biblical Examples of Covetousness

Scripture provides numerous examples demonstrating covetousness’s destructive power across biblical history. You’ll find Achan’s theft during Jericho’s conquest (Joshua 7:20-21) exemplifies how covetous passions led to Israel’s military defeat and his family’s destruction.

David’s adultery with Bathsheba reveals coveting another man’s wife, resulting in murder and lasting consequences (2 Samuel 11:2-4). King Ahab’s desire for Naboth’s vineyard showcases governmental abuse driven by envy (1 Kings 21:1-16).

Judas Iscariot’s betrayal stemmed from his love of money, ultimately leading to Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 26:14-16). These covetousness examples demonstrate how unchecked desire corrupts relationships, destroys communities, and separates individuals from God’s intended purpose for their lives.

Overcoming Covetous Hearts

Recognizing covetousness’s devastating impact throughout biblical history naturally leads to understanding how believers can overcome these destructive desires through Scripture’s transformative wisdom.

Paul’s instruction in Philippians 4:11-13 demonstrates contentment as covetousness’s antidote, where he declares learning satisfaction in every circumstance through Christ’s strength. This directly connects to Hebrews 13:5, commanding believers to remain content without covetousness since God promises never to forsake them.

Timothy’s warning about love of money being evil’s root (1 Timothy 6:10) emphasizes preventing materialism through spiritual priorities. Proverbs 4:23 provides practical guidance for guarding the heart above all else, since life’s issues flow from it.

Jesus’s parable about the rich fool (Luke 12:15-21) illustrates how eternal perspective conquers temporary desires, establishing God’s kingdom values over worldly accumulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Different Versions of the Ten Commandments in the Bible?

Yes, you’ll find biblical differences between the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. While the core principles remain consistent, you’ll notice variations in wording and emphasis. Translation variations further affect how you interpret specific commands, particularly regarding the Sabbath’s rationale and coveting prohibitions.

Cross-referencing these passages reveals Moses presented slightly different versions to accommodate distinct theological contexts and audiences.

Which Bible Translation Is Most Accurate for the Ten Commandments?

You’ll find the NASB and ESV among the most trusted Bible translations for the Ten Commandments, as they prioritize literal accuracy over interpretive flexibility.

When examining reliable scriptural sources, you should cross-reference the Hebrew Masoretic text in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. These translations maintain closer adherence to original syntax and terminology, though you’ll benefit from consulting multiple versions alongside Hebrew lexicons for comprehensive understanding.

How Do Jewish and Christian Numbering Systems for Commandments Differ?

You’ll find significant variations in numbering systems between Jewish and Christian traditions. Jewish interpretation counts “I am the Lord your God” as the first commandment, while Christians typically begin with “You shall have no other gods.”

Catholics and Lutherans combine the prohibition against other gods and idols into one commandment, then split coveting into two separate commandments. These interpretations of commandments reflect different theological emphases across traditions.

Where Else in the Bible Are the Commandments Referenced Besides Exodus?

You’ll find the commandments repeated in Deuteronomy 5:4-21, providing crucial Deuteronomy parallels with slight textual variations.

Old Testament references appear throughout Psalms (notably 81:9-10), while prophetic books like Jeremiah and Ezekiel allude to covenant stipulations.

Jesus references several commandments in Matthew 19:17-19 and Mark 10:19.

Paul’s epistles, particularly Romans 13:9, cite specific prohibitions, demonstrating their enduring theological significance across biblical literature.

What Is the Historical Context of When the Commandments Were Given?

You’ll find the Ten Commandments given during the Mosaic covenant establishment at Mount Sinai, approximately three months after Israel’s exodus from Egypt (Exodus 19:1).

This divine revelation timeline occurs around 1440-1280 BCE, depending on your dating preference.

You’re witnessing a pivotal moment when God transforms liberated slaves into a covenant nation, establishing foundational laws that’ll govern Israel’s relationship with Yahweh and each other throughout their wilderness journey.

Conclusion

You’ve examined the Ten Commandments through their scriptural foundations, observing how these divine precepts form Christianity’s moral framework. You’ll notice these commandments aren’t merely ancient regulations but living principles that shape contemporary ethical discourse. Through cross-referencing Exodus 20:1-17 with Deuteronomy 5:4-21, you’ve witnessed how Moses’ dual recordings emphasize their enduring significance. You’ve discovered that these commandments establish both vertical relationships with God and horizontal relationships with humanity, creating comprehensive moral architecture that continues influencing Western civilization’s legal and ethical systems today.