5.3.1.4 The wording

The wording of the Ten Commandments in use today is not the same as that contained in the Bible text. A simple format that is easy to remember and that keeps the original meaning is preferred.

The Ten Commandments in their present-day wording

First Commandment

I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods before Me.

Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Third Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Fourth Commandment

Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Fifth Commandment

You shall not murder.

Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

Eighth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

Ninth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbour’s house.

Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.

The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20: 2-17

First Commandment

I am the Lord 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 yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.

For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Third Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.

Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Fourth Commandment

Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Fifth Commandment

You shall not murder.

Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

Eighth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

Ninth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbour’s house.

Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.

The Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5: 6-21

First Commandment

I am the Lord 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 yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.

For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Third Commandment

Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.

Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no 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 cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm;

therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Fourth Commandment

Honour your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Fifth Commandment

You shall not murder.

Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

Eighth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

Ninth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife;

Tenth Commandment

and you shall not desire your neighbour’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbour’s.

SUMMARY

The Ten Commandments comprise the core of the Mosaic Law. In them God addresses all human beings. (5.3)

The proclamation of the Ten Commandments, which the people were obliged to fulfil, is part of God's covenant with Israel. (5.3.1.2)

Jesus Christ opened up a new perspective on the Mosaic Law and thus on the Ten Commandments. They are also valid in the new covenant. (5.3.1.3)

The text of the Ten Commandments is recorded twice in Holy Scripture: Exodus 20: 2-17 and Deuteronomy 5: 6-21. (5.3.1.4)