What are the 10 Commandments?

The 10 Commandments in the Bible

The 10 Commandments, called the "Decalogue" by biblical scholars, are found in the Bible in the Pentateuch, the five books of the Old Testament. On the one hand in the book of Exodus (Ex 20:2-17) and on the other hand in the book of Deuteronomy (Dtn 5:6-21).

1. I am the Lord your God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. You should names do not abuse the Lord your God.
3. You shall sanctify the holiday.
4. You shall honor your father and your mother.


The last will be the first - easily explained

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5. You should not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, manservant, maidservant, livestock, or anything that your neighbor has.

This list corresponds to the Lutheran and Roman Catholic traditions. In Judaism there is a deviation in the count, as there the second commandment requires not to worship other gods and not to make an image of God. In the Anglican, Reformed and Orthodox traditions, the ban on images also comes second - the ninth and tenth commandments are understood and summarized as one.

In general, it happens that the commandments are read in slightly different translations. However, the meaning of the 10 Commandments remains the same.

The 10 Commandments are formulated in the Bible as a direct speech from God that he addresses to his people. In them he summarizes what behavior he expects from people towards each other and towards him. They therefore represent the central point of the ethical orientation in the Jewish and Christian faith.