Funny how these ancient rules still pop up everywhere – courtrooms, movies, even memes. But when someone asks "what are the 10 commandments in the Bible?", do we really get it? I'll never forget my confusion as a kid seeing different lists in different churches. Why did some combine the "no other gods" and "no idols" parts while others split them? Took me years to untangle that mess.
Let's cut through the fog together. We're diving straight into the source texts (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5), comparing how major faith groups interpret them, and – crucially – why anyone should care today. Whether you're researching for faith, school, or pure curiosity, you'll find plain answers here without the preaching.
Where These Commandments Actually Come From
Picture this: newly freed Hebrew slaves camping at Mount Sinai. Moses comes down with two stone tablets – God's contract with humanity. Exodus 20 gives the first account, Deuteronomy 5 repeats it before Israel enters Canaan. Both versions are nearly identical, but Deuteronomy adds explanations like "remember you were slaves in Egypt" for the Sabbath command.
Ever notice Hollywood always shows Charlton Heston holding rectangular tablets? Archeologists say they were likely tapered at the top like treaty tablets from that era. Small detail, but it matters – these weren't arbitrary rules but a formal covenant.
The Raw Biblical Text: Exodus 20 Version
Here's the KJV wording straight from Exodus 20:1-17. Don't sweat the old English – we'll break it down next section:
- No other gods before me
- No graven images
- Don't take God's name in vain
- Remember the Sabbath day
- Honor your father and mother
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness
- You shall not covet anything belonging to your neighbor
First time I read this I got stuck on "covet." Sounded like fancy Shakespeare talk. Turns out it just means obsessive jealousy – like craving your neighbor's new Tesla so badly it eats at you.
Breaking Down Each Commandment in Modern Terms
| Commandment | What It Actually Means | Where It Shows Up Today |
|---|---|---|
| No other gods before me | Priority check: Don't let career, money, or status become your ultimate focus | Ever cancel family time for overtime? That's the modern idolatry trap |
| No graven images | Don't create physical idols to worship (think golden calves) | Controversial in churches that use statues – Catholics see them as reminders, not worship objects |
| Don't misuse God's name | Beyond cursing – using religion to scam people or justify hate | Televangelist scandals prove this one's still relevant |
| Keep the Sabbath | Ancient version of digital detox: 24 hours for rest/reflection | Blue laws (no Sunday alcohol sales) in some US states |
| Honor parents | Not blind obedience – care for them in old age, value wisdom | Filial responsibility laws in 30+ US states |
| Don't murder | Hebrew "ratsach" specifically means unlawful killing | Basis for homicide laws worldwide |
| Don't commit adultery | Protecting marriage commitments – big deal in agricultural societies | Still grounds for divorce globally; some countries criminalize it |
| Don't steal | Covers everything from shoplifting to wage theft | Property laws in every legal system |
| Don't lie in court | Specifically about perjury – truth under oath | Perjury laws carry felony charges in most countries |
| Don't covet | Focuses on mental greed before it becomes action | Psychology of envy – social media comparison studies |
That "don't murder" one trips people up. Does it ban war? Self-defense? Capital punishment? The Hebrew word ratsach implies illegal killing, leaving room for context. Ancient Jewish courts still executed people for murder – so clearly not an absolute ban on killing.
Honestly, the adultery commandment feels outdated to some. It assumes marriage as universal when many cultures had polygamy. And let's be real – punishing women more severely than men (as happened historically) misses the spirit entirely.
Why Numbering Gets Confusing
Spoiler: The Bible doesn't number them! Early theologians had to split the text. Here's where traditions diverge:
| Commandment | Protestant/Lutheran | Catholic/Orthodox |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | "I am the Lord your God..." | Same |
| First Commandment | No other gods + no idols (combined) | No other gods only |
| Second Commandment | Don't misuse God's name | No idols only |
| Tenth Commandment | No coveting neighbor's house OR wife (single command) | No coveting house = 9th, no coveting wife = 10th (split) |
This explains why Catholics list only 3 commandments about God and 7 about people, while Protestants have 4 and 6. Neither is "wrong" – just different parsing of the block text.
That time I visited both a Lutheran and Catholic church in the same week? Totally confused when they recited different lists. Now it makes sense.
Real-World Impact You Might Not Expect
Beyond Sunday school posters, these shaped fundamental legal concepts:
- Perjury laws (Commandment 9): In US federal courts, lying under oath carries up to 5 years prison time
- Property rights (Commandment 8): Theft laws protecting possessions trace directly back
- Corporate ethics: Coveting = modern antitrust laws preventing monopolistic greed
- Labor reforms: Sabbath principle inspired weekend breaks and vacation time
But here's an uncomfortable truth: Some commandments didn't make it into modern law. Adultery hasn't been criminalized in most Western nations since the 1800s. And honoring parents? That's morally encouraged but legally unenforceable.
Common Myths Debunked
"They're the basis for all US laws!" Not quite. Only murder, theft, and perjury directly influenced legal codes. The first 4 commandments about God never entered US law (separation of church and state).
"Moses carried them down twice!" Partial truth. Exodus 32 shows Moses smashing the first tablets when seeing the golden calf idol. God replaced them later (Exodus 34), but that second set had different instructions about festivals and sacrifices – not the famous ten.
"All religions accept them" Islam reveres Moses but sees the Quran as God's final word. Buddhists/Hindus have different ethical frameworks. Even Jewish tradition counts 613 commandments – not just ten.
Your Burning Questions Answered
Are the 10 commandments still binding on Christians?
Depends who you ask. Lutherans see them as God's eternal law. Many Protestants believe Christ fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17), emphasizing grace over rule-keeping. Catholics divide them into moral (still binding) vs. ceremonial laws (not binding). Messy, right?
Why no commandment against rape or slavery?
Critics pounce on this. Context is key: Other Old Testament laws did address those (Exodus 21:16 banned slave trading, Deuteronomy 22:25-27 punished rapists). The 10 Commandments were foundational principles – not exhaustive laws.
Where can I see the original stones?
Nowhere. The Ark of the Covenant that held them vanished when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem's temple in 586 BC. Theories range from Ethiopian churches to hidden Middle Eastern caves. Honestly, they likely got destroyed or melted down for gold.
Do Jews and Christians list them the same way?
Pretty close! Jewish tradition follows Exodus 20 verbatim without splitting or combining. Commandment 1 is "I am the Lord your God", not counted as a "command" but as a statement. The "no other gods" becomes commandment 2 in their count.
Why People Still Care About the 10 Commandments
Beyond religious duty, three practical reasons:
Psychological framework – Boundaries reduce anxiety. Knowing "this isn't mine to take" frees mental energy.
Social cohesion – Societies collapse without shared rules against killing and stealing.
Historical literacy – You can't grasp Western art, literature, or politics without this reference point.
Walking through the Supreme Court building last year, I saw Moses holding the tablets in the sculpture gallery. That's not religious endorsement – it's cultural acknowledgment. Love them or hate them, these ten rules shaped civilizations.
Final thought? If you take nothing else away, remember this: When exploring what are the 10 commandments in the Bible, context is everything. They weren't arbitrary restrictions but survival code for a fledgling nation. And whether you view them as divine or human-made, their endurance is fascinating. Got more questions? Drop them in the comments – I'll tackle them personally.
Comment