The Ten Commandments

The scriptures themselves call these the Decalogue (Greek, "ten words"): Ex 34:28; Deut 4:13 and 10:4.

There are actually more than ten commandments in the two scripture passages that detail the law given to Moses on Mt Sinai: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deut 5:6-21.

I count thirteen imperatives in each passage after the opening "word" that God is the LORD who rescued the Israelites from slavery. There are various methods of grouping the imperatives to arrive at just ten commandments.

Exodus 20:1-17

God alone is God

1. I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.

2. You shall not have other gods besides me.

3. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;

4. You shall not bow down before them or worship them.

For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

5. You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain.

The Sabbath

6. Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.

7. No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your beast, or by the alien who lives with you.

In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Parents

8. Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you.

Murder

9. You shall not [murder].

Adultery

10. You shall not commit adultery.

Theft

11. You shall not steal.

Lying

12. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Coveting

13. You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

14. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything else that belongs to him."

Deut 5:6-21

God alone is God

1. I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.

2. You shall not have other gods besides me.

3. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth.

4. You shall not bow down before them or worship them.

For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishments for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation but bestowing mercy, down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

5. You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.

For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain.

The Sabbath

6. Take care to keep holy the sabbath day as the LORD, your God, commanded you.

7. Six days you may labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done then, whether by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or ass or any of your beasts, or the alien who lives with you. Your male and female slave should rest as you do.

For remember that you too were once slaves in Egypt, and the LORD, your God, brought you from there with his strong hand and outstretched arm. That is why the LORD, your God, has commanded you to observe the sabbath day.

Parents

8. Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD, your God, has commanded you, that you may have a long life and prosperity in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you.

Murder

9. You shall not kill.

Adultery

10. You shall not commit adultery.

Theft

11. You shall not steal.

Lying

12. You shall not bear dishonest witness against your neighbor.

Coveting

13. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

14. You shall not desire your neighbor's house or field, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything that belongs to him.

Catholic and Lutheran Traditions

The Catholic method of grouping the commandments into Ten follows the teaching of St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430).[1] The commandment against idolatry is combined with the prefatory statement and there are two separate kind of coveting prohibited in the ninth and tenth commandments.

1. I am the LORD your God; you shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not take the Name of the LORD your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the LORD's Day.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not [murder].

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 wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Reformed Traditions

These traditions treat the first statement as a commandment and have only a single commandment against all kinds of coveting in the tenth commandment.

1. I am the LORD your God.

2. You shall make no graven images.

3. You shall not take the Name of the LORD your God in vain.

4. Remember to keep holy the LORD's Day.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not [murder].

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or your neighbor's goods.