So you're looking for the 10 commandments verse. Maybe it's for a study group, a sermon prep, helping the kids with homework, or you're just curious. Honestly, finding a clear answer isn't always as simple as grabbing a Bible. Which book? Which chapter? Why are some lists different? And what's up with Deuteronomy? Let's cut through the confusion. I remember scrambling before a class once, flipping pages like crazy – turns out I was looking in Exodus, but the teacher quoted Deuteronomy. Awkward. Let's make sure that doesn't happen to you.
Where Exactly to Find the 10 Commandments Verse (It's Not Just One Spot)
This trips up so many people. You'd think the famous Ten Commandments verse would be easy to pin down. But nope. The core listing appears in two main places in the Old Testament. Here's the breakdown:
The Classic Spot: Exodus 20
This is the granddaddy, the Sinai moment. Moses up on the mountain, thunder and lightning, stone tablets – the whole dramatic scene. Open your Bible to Exodus chapter 20, verses 1 through 17. That's your primary source for the 10 commandments verse. This is the version most people picture when they think of the commandments.
The Second Helping: Deuteronomy 5
Ever feel like you're hearing the same story again later? That's Deuteronomy. It means "second law," basically Moses reminding everyone of the rules before they entered the Promised Land. Flip forward to Deuteronomy chapter 5, verses 4 through 21. You'll find another listing of the commandments. Now, it's mostly the same core rules, but... there are nuances, especially in the reasoning given for the Sabbath commandment. Exodus points back to God resting after creation, while Deuteronomy emphasizes the liberation from slavery in Egypt. Interesting, right?
Why Two Listings? It's a common head-scratcher. Exodus records the event as it happened at Sinai. Deuteronomy is Moses recapping the law decades later for a new generation about to enter Canaan. The slight differences in wording, especially for the Sabbath, reflect the different contexts: creation vs. redemption. Neither replaces the other; they complement. Both are valid sources for the 10 commandments verse.
Breaking Down the 10 Commandments Verse by Verse
Okay, let's get practical. What do those verses actually say? Different translations phrase things slightly differently, but the core commands are consistent. Here’s a clear breakdown based on the Exodus 20:1-17 passage, which is generally considered the primary source:
| Commandment # (Traditional) | Key Phrase (Exodus 20 Focus) | What It Means (Plain English) | Verse Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No other gods before Me | Ultimate loyalty belongs to God alone. Reject idolatry in all forms. | Exodus 20:3 |
| 2 | No graven images / bow down to them | Don't make idols representing God (or other gods) and don't worship them. Focus is on the heart attitude. | Exodus 20:4-6 |
| 3 | Not take the name of the Lord in vain | Don't misuse God's name (swearing falsely, cursing, trivializing). Treat it with reverence. | Exodus 20:7 |
| 4 | Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy | Set aside the seventh day (Saturday) for rest and worship. No regular work for you, family, servants, or animals. | Exodus 20:8-11 |
| 5 | Honor your father and mother | Show respect, obedience (especially when young), and care for parents. Promises societal stability. | Exodus 20:12 |
| 6 | You shall not murder | Prohibits the unlawful, intentional taking of human life. (Note: KJV says "kill," which is broader and causes confusion; most modern translations specify "murder"). | Exodus 20:13 |
| 7 | You shall not commit adultery | Faithfulness within marriage. Prohibits sexual relations outside the marriage covenant. | Exodus 20:14 |
| 8 | You shall not steal | Respect others' property and rights. Don't take what isn't yours, big or small. | Exodus 20:15 |
| 9 | You shall not bear false witness | Tell the truth, especially in legal settings. Don't lie or spread harmful gossip about others. | Exodus 20:16 |
| 10 | You shall not covet... | Guard your heart against desiring what belongs to someone else (house, spouse, servants, animals, anything). Focuses on internal attitude. | Exodus 20:17 |
Looking at that table, commandment #2 feels incredibly relevant today. It's not just about statues, right? It's about putting anything – money, fame, power, even relationships – in God's place as the ultimate source of our security or happiness. That one hits home pretty often.
Deuteronomy 5 vs. Exodus 20: Spotting the Differences (It's Mostly About the Sabbath)
So we've got two main 10 commandments verse locations. Are they identical? Almost, but not quite. The most significant variation is in the reasoning for the fourth commandment, keeping the Sabbath.
- Exodus 20:11: "For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Focus: Commemoration of Creation)
- Deuteronomy 5:15: "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." (Focus: Commemoration of Deliverance from Slavery)
Which one is "right"? Both. Exodus grounds the Sabbath in the universal pattern of creation rest. Deuteronomy grounds it in Israel's specific history of liberation – a reminder that just as God freed them, they were to grant rest to everyone within their community. It adds a layer of social justice to the command.
Some minor wording differences exist elsewhere (e.g., Deuteronomy 5:21 says "covet your neighbor's field" separately before listing household items, while Exodus 20:17 bundles it all together). But the core commands remain solidly the same. Knowing these two sources helps you understand why sometimes people quote slightly different phrasing when talking about the 10 commandments verse.
Why Does the Numbering Get Messy Sometimes?
Ever see different lists? Like Catholics and Lutherans seeming to combine the first two commandments about other gods and images? Or Protestants having separate ones for coveting house and stuff vs. wife? It's not that the text changes, it's how different traditions group the verses. Here's the main split:
| Commandment | Jewish Tradition | Orthodox / Reformed / Most Protestant | Catholic / Lutheran |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro | Ex 20:2 / Deut 5:6 | Intro (Not counted) | Intro (Not counted) |
| 1 | Ex 20:3 / Deut 5:7 | Ex 20:3 (No other gods) | Ex 20:2-6 / Deut 5:6-10 (Combined: No other gods before me + No idols) |
| 2 | Ex 20:4-6 / Deut 5:8-10 | Ex 20:4-6 (No idols) | (Part of #1) |
| 3 | Ex 20:7 / Deut 5:11 | Ex 20:7 (Don't misuse name) | Ex 20:7 (Don't misuse name) |
| 4 | Ex 20:8-11 / Deut 5:12-15 | Ex 20:8-11 (Sabbath) | Ex 20:8-11 (Sabbath) |
| 5 | Ex 20:12 / Deut 5:16 | Ex 20:12 (Honor parents) | Ex 20:12 (Honor parents) |
| 6 | Ex 20:13 / Deut 5:17 | Ex 20:13 (No murder) | Ex 20:13 (No murder) |
| 7 | Ex 20:14 / Deut 5:18 | Ex 20:14 (No adultery) | Ex 20:14 (No adultery) |
| 8 | Ex 20:15 / Deut 5:19 | Ex 20:15 (No stealing) | Ex 20:15 (No stealing) |
| 9 | Ex 20:16 / Deut 5:20 | Ex 20:16 (No false witness) | Ex 20:16 (No false witness) |
| 10 | Ex 20:17 / Deut 5:21 | Ex 20:17 (No coveting - all items) | Ex 20:17a (No coveting neighbor's wife) Ex 20:17b (No coveting neighbor's goods) |
See where things shift? The main difference is always near the top and bottom. The Catholic/Lutheran tradition combines the prohibitions against other gods and idols into Commandment 1, and then splits the prohibition on coveting into two separate commandments (9 & 10) to keep the total at ten. Everyone else keeps 'no other gods' and 'no idols' separate (#1 & #2), and keeps coveting as one commandment (#10). It's all about grouping verses, not changing the core content of the 10 commandments verse.
Popular Bible Translations: Which One Says It Best?
Let's be real, the thee's and thou's of the King James Version (KJV) can be tough going. You want clarity for understanding that Ten Commandments verse? Here's a quick comparison of how different popular translations handle the first commandment and the murder/steal commands, to give you a flavor:
| Translation | First Commandment (Exodus 20:3) | Murder/Steal (Exodus 20:13, 15) | Style Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| KJV (King James Version) | Thou shalt have no other gods before me. | Thou shalt not kill. / Thou shalt not steal. | Archaic language, poetic, influential but "kill" can be misleading. |
| NKJV (New King James) | You shall have no other gods before Me. | You shall not murder. / You shall not steal. | Modernizes KJV language, clarifies "murder". |
| NIV (New International Version) | You shall have no other gods before me. | You shall not murder. / You shall not steal. | Very readable, thought-for-thought, widely used. |
| ESV (English Standard Version) | You shall have no other gods before me. | You shall not murder. / You shall not steal. | Accurate, literal, good balance. |
| NLT (New Living Translation) | You must not have any other god but me. | You must not murder. / You must not steal. | Very easy to understand, paraphrase style. |
| NASB (New American Standard Bible) | You shall have no other gods before Me. | You shall not murder. / You shall not steal. | Highly literal, precise, sometimes awkward. |
My go-to for studying the actual 10 commandments verse text is usually the NIV or ESV. The NLT is fantastic if you're explaining it to someone new or younger. That old word "kill" in the KJV (#6) throws people off constantly – did it mean no killing animals? No war? Most scholars agree "murder" (unlawful, intentional killing) is the intended meaning, and modern translations reflect that. Makes a big difference!
Memorizing the 10 Commandments Verse: Forget Boring Lists, Try This
Need to memorize them? Rote repetition is soul-crushing. Here are some tricks that actually stick:
- The Number Rhyme Method: Assign an image to each number (1 = Sun, 2 = Shoe, 3 = Tree, etc.). Link the command to that image.
- 1 = Sun (only ONE true God, brighter than the sun)
- 2 = Shoe (don't make an idol and BOW DOWN to it)
- 3 = Tree (don't misuse God's name - imagine carving it into a tree)
- ...and so on. Get creative!
- The Story Method: Visualize Moses on Sinai. God speaks (1-4). Moses comes down, sees chaos - people stealing (8), murdering (6), lying (9), committing adultery (7), disrespecting parents (5), coveting (10). The tablets shatter. Helps sequence commands 5-10.
- Grouping:
- God First (1-4): Worship only Him, no idols, respect His name, rest on His day.
- Love Others (5-10): Honor parents, protect life, keep promises, respect property, tell truth, control desires.
- Simple Acronyms: Think of a word where each letter stands for the first word or concept of a command (1-10 order). E.g., "No Idols Please Seriously Stop Coveting Everything" (Okay, that's bad... but you get the idea!). Make your own.
The grouping method really helped my kids. Breaking those ten down into "How we relate to God" and "How we relate to people" makes the whole 10 commandments verse structure easier to grasp.
Where Else Do Those Commandments Pop Up? (Hint: Jesus!)
Think the Ten Commandments verse is just an Old Testament thing? Think again. Jesus constantly referenced them and dug deeper into their meaning. Check this out:
- Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Jesus directly addresses murder/anger (Matt 5:21-22), adultery/lust (Matt 5:27-28), oaths/truthfulness (Matt 5:33-37), and love for enemies (touches on coveting/hate, Matt 5:43-48). He intensifies them, focusing on the internal attitudes, not just external actions.
- Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-23): When asked about eternal life, Jesus lists several commandments (murder, adultery, steal, false witness, honor parents, and implies loving neighbor - covering the second tablet).
- The Greatest Commandments (Matthew 22:34-40): Jesus summarizes the entire Law ("Torah," which includes the 10 Commandments) with "Love the Lord your God..." (Commands 1-4) and "Love your neighbor..." (Commands 5-10). He sees the 10 commandments verse as flowing from these two core principles.
Paul also references them frequently (e.g., Romans 13:8-10, linking love to fulfilling commandments like adultery, murder, stealing, coveting). So while Christians believe Jesus fulfilled the Law, the moral principles embodied in the 10 commandments verse remain profoundly relevant as a reflection of God's character and human responsibility.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions About the 10 Commandments Verse Answered
Let's tackle the stuff people actually search for:
What is the actual verse for the Ten Commandments?
There isn't one single verse. It's a passage. The primary location is Exodus 20:1-17. The secondary location is Deuteronomy 5:4-21. You need to read the whole section for the full list.
Why are the 10 Commandments in two places?
Exodus records the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Deuteronomy ("second law") is Moses restating the Law to the new generation entering Canaan. The core commandments are identical, but the Sabbath reasoning differs slightly (Creation vs. Redemption).
Do Catholics and Protestants have different 10 Commandments?
No, the text is the same (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5). The difference is in numbering. Catholics/Lutherans combine the prohibitions against other gods and idols into the First Commandment. Protestants keep them separate (#1 & #2). Catholics/Lutherans then split the command against coveting into two (#9 & #10), while Protestants keep coveting as one command (#10). The content covered is identical.
What does "Thou shalt not kill" really mean?
The original Hebrew word (ratsach) specifically means murder – the unlawful, intentional killing of another human. It does not refer to killing animals, capital punishment (as administered by a just authority based on laws), or killing in war (under strict ancient Israelite rules). Most modern translations (NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT, NASB) correctly translate it as "You shall not murder." The KJV's use of "kill" is overly broad and causes confusion.
Is coveting really as bad as murder or adultery?
Jesus highlighted that sin starts in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). Coveting (#10) is the root attitude that can lead to breaking commandments 6, 7, 8, and 9. Desiring what belongs to someone else breeds resentment, theft, adultery (desiring their spouse), and even violence. Guarding your heart against coveting is foundational to ethical living. That tenth commandment packs a punch we often underestimate.
Where can I find the 10 Commandments listed simply?
Here's a concise list based on the Protestant numbering from Exodus 20:
- Worship only God.
- Don't make or worship idols.
- Respect God's name.
- Keep the Sabbath day holy (rest/worship).
- Honor your parents.
- Don't murder.
- Don't commit adultery.
- Don't steal.
- Don't lie about others.
- Don't covet what belongs to others.
Are the 10 Commandments still relevant today?
This sparks debate! For many Jews and Christians, they hold enduring value as:
- A foundational moral code reflecting God's character.
- Principles promoting societal well-being (respect for life, property, truth, family).
- Revealing humanity's need for grace (who perfectly keeps them all?).
Using the 10 Commandments Verse Effectively: Beyond Just Knowing Where It Is
Finding the 10 commandments verse is step one. What then?
- Personal Reflection: Seriously, take one commandment a week. How does "no idols" show up in your life today? Is it your phone? Your bank account? Your reputation? What does "coveting" look like scrolling through social media? It's an uncomfortable mirror sometimes.
- Ethical Framework: They provide a baseline for right and wrong that transcends personal opinion or cultural shifts. Debating a tough decision? Run it past these principles.
- Teaching Tool: Whether for kids, a study group, or yourself, they offer concrete points for discussing morality, responsibility, and faith. Use the tables and comparisons here to explain the nuances.
- Understanding Scripture: So much of the Old Testament law and the prophets' messages build on or react to these core commands. Grasping them unlocks deeper Bible reading. When Jesus talks about the Law, he's often interacting with the principles behind these ten.
Don't just locate the 10 commandments verse. Sit with it. Wrestle with it. See where it challenges you. That's where the real value kicks in. That coveting one still gets me more than I'd like to admit when I see my neighbor's new car or a friend's vacation pics...
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