The term "Decalogue" refers to the Ten Commandments, a foundational set of divine laws given by God to the people of Israel through Moses. These commandments are recorded in the Old Testament in two primary locations: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The Decalogue serves as a moral and ethical code that has profoundly influenced Judeo-Christian thought and Western legal systems.

Biblical Context

The Decalogue was delivered to the Israelites at Mount Sinai after their exodus from Egypt. This event is a pivotal moment in biblical history, marking the establishment of a covenant between God and His chosen people. The commandments were inscribed by the finger of God on two stone tablets, symbolizing their divine origin and enduring significance (Exodus 31:18).

The Ten Commandments

1. No Other Gods: "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3) This commandment establishes the exclusivity of worship owed to Yahweh, rejecting polytheism and idolatry.

2. No Idols: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath." (Exodus 20:4) This prohibits the creation and worship of physical representations of deities.

3. God's Name in Vain: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) This commandment underscores the sanctity of God's name and the importance of reverence in speech.

4. Sabbath Day: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (Exodus 20:8) The Sabbath is a day of rest and worship, commemorating God's rest after creation and serving as a sign of the covenant.

5. Honor Parents: "Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12) This commandment emphasizes the importance of family structure and respect for parental authority.

6. No Murder: "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13) This commandment upholds the sanctity of human life, prohibiting unlawful killing.

7. No Adultery: "You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14) This commandment protects the sanctity of marriage and promotes fidelity.

8. No Stealing: "You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15) This commandment affirms the right to personal property and condemns theft.

9. No False Witness: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16) This commandment calls for honesty and integrity, particularly in legal matters.

10. No Coveting: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17) This commandment addresses the inner desires and attitudes, warning against envy and discontent.

Theological Significance

The Decalogue is not merely a set of rules but a reflection of God's character and His expectations for human behavior. It reveals God's holiness, justice, and love, serving as a guide for righteous living. The commandments are divided into two sections: the first four focus on the relationship between God and humanity, while the last six address interpersonal relationships.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, Jesus affirms the enduring relevance of the Decalogue. When asked about the greatest commandment, He summarizes the law with two principles: love for God and love for neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). The Apostle Paul also reiterates the moral imperatives of the Decalogue, emphasizing that love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-10).

Cultural and Historical Impact

Throughout history, the Decalogue has been a cornerstone of Christian ethics and moral teaching. It has influenced legal systems, educational curricula, and cultural norms. The Ten Commandments continue to be a subject of study, reflection, and application in both religious and secular contexts.Decalogue

The ten principal commandments, Exodus 20:3-17, from the Greek words deka, ten, and logos, word. The Jews call these precepts, The Ten Words. The usual division of the Ten Commandments among Protestants is that which Josephus tells us was employed by the Jews in his day.

The name given by the Greek fathers to the ten commandments; "the ten words," as the original is more literally rendered (Exodus 20:3-17). These commandments were at first written on two stone slabs (31:18), which were broken by Moses throwing them down on the ground (32:19). They were written by God a second time (34:1). The decalogue is alluded to in the New Testament five times (Matthew 5:17, 18, 19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 7:7, 8; 13:9; 1 Timothy 1:9, 10).

These commandments have been divided since the days of Origen the Greek father, as they stand in the Confession of all the Reformed Churches except the Lutheran. The division adopted by Luther, and which has ever since been received in the Lutheran Church, makes the first two commandments one, and the third the second, and so on to the last, which is divided into two. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house" being ranked as ninth, and "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife," etc., the tenth. (see COMMANDMENTS.)

(n.) The Ten Commandments or precepts given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, and originally written on two tables of stone.DECALOGUE

dek'-a-log.

See TEN COMMANDMENTS.

3142. marturion -- a testimony, a witness
... Neuter of a presumed derivative of martus; something evidential, ie (genitive case)
evidence given or (specially), the Decalogue (in the sacred Tabernacle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3142.htm - 6k8451. torah -- direction, instruction, law
... bullock, ox. Or torah {to-raw'}; from yarah; a precept or statute, especially the
Decalogue or Pentateuch -- law. see HEBREW yarah. 8450, 8451. torah. 8452 > ...
/hebrew/8451.htm - 6k

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue are Precepts of Justice?
... OF THE PRECEPTS OF JUSTICE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the precepts of the decalogue
are precepts of justice? Objection 1: It seems that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the 6.htm

The Decalogue: I --Man and God
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE DECALOGUE: I"MAN AND GOD. 'And ... men's. This prelude
certainly confines the Decalogue to the people of Israel. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the decalogue iman and god.htm

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue are Dispensable?
... OF THE MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE OLD LAW (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the precepts
of the decalogue are dispensable? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the 4.htm

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue Should have Included a ...
... OF THE PRECEPTS RELATING TO PRUDENCE (TWO ARTICLES) Whether the precepts
of the decalogue should have included a precept of prudence? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the 5.htm

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue are Suitably Distinguished ...
... OF THE MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE OLD LAW (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the precepts
of the decalogue are suitably distinguished from one another? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the.htm

Whether the Ten Precepts of the Decalogue are Set in Proper Order?
... OF THE MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE OLD LAW (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the ten precepts
of the decalogue are set in proper order? Objection ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the ten precepts of.htm

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue are Suitably Formulated?
... OF THE MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE OLD LAW (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the precepts
of the decalogue are suitably formulated? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the 3.htm

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue are Suitably Set Forth?
... OF THE MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE OLD LAW (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the precepts
of the decalogue are suitably set forth? Objection 1 ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the 2.htm

The Decalogue: ii. --Man and Man
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE DECALOGUE: II."MAN AND MAN. ... II. The connection of the
two halves of the Decalogue teaches some important truth. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the decalogue ii man and man.htm

Whether the Third Precept of the Decalogue, Concerning the ...
... OF THE PRECEPTS OF JUSTICE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the third precept of the decalogue,
concerning the hallowing of the Sabbath, is fittingly expressed? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the third precept of.htm

Decalogue
... They were written by God a second time (34:1). The decalogue is alluded to in the
New Testament five times (Matthew 5:17, 18, 19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20 ...
/d/decalogue.htm - 8k

Ten (234 Occurrences)
... THE PROMULGATON OF THE DECALOGUE III. ANALYSIS ... laws. It was to Israel that the
Decalogue was primarily addressed, and not to all mankind. ...
/t/ten.htm - 60k

Commandments (181 Occurrences)
... marg. "ten words") ie, the Decalogue (qv), is a summary of the immutable
moral law. ... THE PROMULGATON OF THE DECALOGUE III. ANALYSIS ...
/c/commandments.htm - 65k

Backslide
... Further the directions given with reference to the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:31
taken from P) presuppose the Decalogue (from E); compare eg. ...
/b/backslide.htm - 88k

Decapolis (3 Occurrences)

/d/decapolis.htm - 10k

Debts (10 Occurrences)

/d/debts.htm - 9k

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A season or day of rest; one day in seven appointed for rest or worship,
the observance of which was enjoined upon the Jews in the Decalogue, and has ...
/s/sabbath.htm - 86k

Genesis
... as the basis for the construction of the pericopes: Exodus 1:8-7:7; Exodus
7:8-13:16 (10 plagues); 13:17-18:27 (see EXODUS, II, 2:1-3); the Decalogue (20:1 ...
/g/genesis.htm - 40k

Covenant (309 Occurrences)
... 1) that the actual existence of the two tables of the law is denied without sufficient
reasons; that the ten principal formulas of the Decalogue, as these are ...
/c/covenant.htm - 101k

Lawless (16 Occurrences)
... Those are "lawless" who break the law of the Decalogue; hence, those who disobey
the commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother," are lawless (1 Timothy 1:9 ...
/l/lawless.htm - 12k

What are the Ten Commandments? What is the Decalogue? | GotQuestions.org

Are the Ten Commandments repeated in the New Testament? | GotQuestions.org

Why is "You shall not give false testimony" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

Decalogue: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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