“You shall not murder.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This commandment, "You shall not murder," is not just about the physical act of killing, but a profound protection of human life itself. The Hebrew word used implies a violent and unlawful taking of life, highlighting that God's law guards the sanctity of every person, not just against outright murder, but also against unjust violence and hatred in the heart.
“You shall not murder.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This commandment comes immediately after the instructions regarding honoring parents, moving from familial duties to broader social obligations. It's part of a series of prohibitions defining how people are to relate to one another, setting the stage for the laws that will protect life, property, and truth within the community God is forming. The instruction to not murder is foundational to creating a safe and just society where every individual life is valued.
God’s command to not murder is more than just a rule against ending a life. It’s a profound statement about the value He places on every human being.
God's Image
God created humanity in His own image (Genesis 1:27). This means every person carries a reflection of the Divine, regardless of their background, actions, or status. To take a life is to violate something sacred, an offense against God Himself.
Life's Foundation
This commandment lays the groundwork for all human community. Without the fundamental respect for life, society cannot function. It establishes that life is a gift from God, not something we can arbitrarily take or give.
Universal Law
Even before this command was given at Sinai, the principle was established after the flood: "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind" (Genesis 9:6). This shows that the sanctity of life is a universal truth, understood by all people.
Did you know that what’s going on inside your heart can break God’s law, even if no one gets hurt?
The Heart of the Matter
Jesus powerfully expanded the understanding of this commandment. He taught that anger, hatred, and contempt towards another person are not distant from murder; they are the fertile ground from which murder can spring.
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Internal Violence
Jesus stated, "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:22). This highlights that God’s law concerns not just outward actions, but also the inner disposition of our hearts. Unchecked anger and malice are forms of spiritual violence.
Love as the Goal
The negative command ('You shall not murder') implies a positive one: to love and protect the lives of others. This includes actively caring for the vulnerable and seeking reconciliation rather than conflict.
When is taking a life permissible, and when is it a clear violation? The Bible draws important distinctions.
Legitimate Authority
While the commandment forbids unjust killing, it doesn't prohibit all forms of taking a life. The civil magistrate, acting under God's authority, has the right to execute criminals as a consequence for severe offenses (Romans 13:4).
Self-Defense and War
The law also acknowledges the necessity of self-defense when one's own life is in imminent danger. Similarly, lawful warfare, undertaken for just causes and under legitimate authority, is distinguished from unjust aggression.
Careful Nuance
Ancient Israelite law, and later interpretation, carefully distinguished between intentional murder, accidental killing (manslaughter), and justifiable homicide. The command 'You shall not murder' primarily targets malicious intent and unjust violence, while acknowledging specific, divinely ordained exceptions.
Understand the original words
ratsach · Hebrew Verb
The unlawful, intentional taking of human life. Since humanity is created in the image of God, this act is a violation of the sanctity of life.
This passage provides a foundational reason for the commandment, stating that humans are made in God's image, making murder a violation of that sacred image.
Matthew 5:21-22Jesus expands on this commandment, teaching that anger and hateful words towards a brother are also spiritual violations, revealing the deeper intent of the law beyond just physical violence.
1 John 3:15This New Testament passage echoes Jesus' teaching, directly stating that anyone who hates their brother is essentially a murderer in God's eyes, highlighting the heart's attitude as crucial.
Romans 13:4This verse speaks to the role of governing authorities as God's servants to execute wrath on the wrongdoer, implying that while individuals are forbidden to murder, the state has a God-ordained authority to take life in specific contexts, providing a contrast to the personal prohibition.
calvinExodus 20:13: "Thou shalt not kill."
- Non occides. THE REPETITION OF THE SAME COMMANDMENT. Deuteronomy 5
Deuteronomy 5:17
Thou shalt not kill.
Non occides.
The sum of this Commandment is, that we should not unjustly do violence to any one. In order, however, that God may the better restrain us from all injury of others, He propounds one particular form of it, from which men's natural sense is abhorrent; for we all detest murder, so as to recoil from those whose hands are polluted…
clarkeExodus 20:13: "Thou shalt not kill."
Thou shalt not kill - This commandment, which is general, prohibits murder of every kind. 1. All actions by which the lives of our fellow creatures may be abridged. 2. All wars for extending empire, commerce, etc. 3. All sanguinary laws, by the operation of which the lives of men may be taken away for offenses of comparatively trifling demerit. 4. All bad dispositions which lead men to wish evil to, or meditate mischief against, one another; for, says the Sc…
This commandment, "You shall not murder," is not just about the physical act of killing, but a profound protection of human life itself. The Hebrew word used implies a violent and unlawful taking of life, highlighting that God's law guards the sanctity of every person, not just against outright murder, but also against unjust violence and hatred in the heart.
This commandment comes immediately after the instructions regarding honoring parents, moving from familial duties to broader social obligations. It's part of a series of prohibitions defining how people are to relate to one another, setting the stage for the laws that will protect life, property, and truth within the community God is forming. The instruction to not murder is foundational to creating a safe and just society where every individual life is valued.
This commandment comes immediately after the instructions regarding honoring parents, moving from familial duties to broader social obligations. It's part of a series of prohibitions defining how people are to relate to one another, setting the stage for the laws that will protect life, property, and truth within the community God is forming. The instruction to not murder is foundational to creating a safe and just society where every individual life is valued.
"“You shall not murder." — This commandment, "You shall not murder," is not just about the physical act of killing, but a profound protection of human life itself. The Hebrew word used implies a violent and unlawful taking of…
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Last reviewed October 2026