“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Exodus 20:13-15
What does Exodus 20:13-15 mean?
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Exodus 20:13-15
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This command, "You shall not murder," isn't just about the act of killing; it also implicitly forbids the underlying hatred and malice that fuels such violence. Jesus himself expands on this, showing that even anger and contempt toward another person fall under God's scrutiny, revealing a much deeper call to protect life at its root.
“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This commandment comes immediately after instructions concerning our relationship with God and follows the prohibitions against idolatry and misusing God's name. It shifts focus to how we treat our neighbors, setting a foundational boundary for human interaction by protecting the sanctity of life before detailing other relational duties. This prohibition establishes the core principle that human life is divinely protected, with specific applications and exceptions to be elaborated later in the Law.
We see this commandment, 'You shall not murder,' and think, 'Okay, simple enough. Don't kill anyone.' But there's a deeper reason why God forbids it. What is it?
The foundational truth here is that human life is a sacred gift from God, and therefore, it belongs to Him alone.
God's Authority Over Life
When God institutes this commandment, He's not just setting a rule for human behavior; He's asserting His ultimate authority as the Creator and sustainer of life. All commentaries point to Genesis 9:6 – 'Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image' – as a key passage. This verse establishes that taking a human life is an offense against God Himself because every person bears His image.
Beyond a Simple Prohibition
This isn't just about preventing physical violence. It's about recognizing the inherent dignity and value God has placed in every person. To unjustly take a life is to desecrate God's image in that person, an act that God views with utmost seriousness.
Is 'You shall not murder' only about pulling the trigger or swinging the weapon? Or does it reach further into our attitudes and actions?
While the literal act of murder is the most obvious violation, this commandment has a much broader application that touches our hearts, words, and overall disposition towards others.
Heart Attitudes Matter
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Jesus himself expanded on this commandment, teaching that anger, hatred, and contempt for a brother are also serious offenses in God's eyes (Matthew 5:21-22). The ancient commentators agree: harboring malice, envy, or ill will towards someone is a violation of this command, even if no physical harm occurs. This is because these negative emotions are the seeds from which violence can grow.
Active Protection of Life
Furthermore, the commandment isn't just negative ('don't kill'); it has a positive dimension. It implies a duty to protect life, to act with charity towards the vulnerable, and to prevent harm where possible. Neglecting to help someone in life-threatening danger, when you have the means to do so, can also be seen as a breach of this command. We are called not only to refrain from violence but to actively promote the well-being and preservation of life.
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.
na'aph · Hebrew Verb
Sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse; it is a violation of the covenant of marriage established by God.
ganab · Hebrew Verb
The act of taking another person's property without permission or legal right; it violates the principle of stewardship and respect for one's neighbor's livelihood.
This passage directly links the sanctity of human life to the image of God, establishing a foundational reason why murder is forbidden long before the Ten Commandments were given.
Matthew 5:21-22Jesus expands the understanding of 'murder' beyond the physical act to include anger and contempt towards a brother, revealing the deeper spiritual intent behind the commandment.
Romans 13:9This New Testament passage reiterates the prohibition against murder as part of a summary of laws, showing its enduring importance within the framework of loving one's neighbor.
1 John 3:15John directly equates hatred of a brother with murder, echoing Jesus' teaching and emphasizing that hostile attitudes in the heart are antithetical to God's commands.
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 command, "You shall not murder," isn't just about the act of killing; it also implicitly forbids the underlying hatred and malice that fuels such violence. Jesus himself expands on this, showing that even anger and contempt toward another person fall under God's scrutiny, revealing a much deeper call to protect life at its root.
This commandment comes immediately after instructions concerning our relationship with God and follows the prohibitions against idolatry and misusing God's name. It shifts focus to how we treat our neighbors, setting a foundational boundary for human interaction by protecting the sanctity of life before detailing other relational duties. This prohibition establishes the core principle that human life is divinely protected, with specific applications and exceptions to be elaborated later in the Law.
This commandment comes immediately after instructions concerning our relationship with God and follows the prohibitions against idolatry and misusing God's name. It shifts focus to how we treat our neighbors, setting a foundational boundary for human interaction by protecting the sanctity of life before detailing other relational duties. This prohibition establishes the core principle that human life is divinely protected, with specific applications and exceptions to be elaborated later in the Law.
"“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal." — This command, "You shall not murder," isn't just about the act of killing; it also implicitly forbids the underlying hatred and malice that fuels such violence. Jesus himself expands on this, showing…
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Last reviewed October 2026