Why is “You shall not murder” in the Ten Commandments?

Answer

Simply put, the sixth of the Ten Commandments prohibits the unjust taking of a human life. However, this commandment contains some interesting elements worth noting. Firstly, various translations of the Bible may give the impression of different meanings, leading to potential misunderstandings of the actual message of the verse. Secondly, man was not created to commit murder, and there must be an explanation for such a violent and final act against another human being. Thirdly, due to translation challenges, it is important to distinguish between “murder” and “killing.” Lastly, how does God perceive murder? To God, murder is not only physical but also reflects the condition of one’s heart towards others.

There are two Hebrew words (ratsakh, mut) and two Greek words (phoneuo, apokteino) for “murder” and “killing.” One signifies “to put to death,” while the other means “to murder.” The prohibition in the Ten Commandments is against the latter. Ratsakh has a broader definition than the English term “murder,” encompassing deaths resulting from carelessness or neglect but not describing killings in wartime. This is why most modern translations state the sixth commandment as “You shall not murder” rather than “You shall not kill.” However, a significant issue can arise depending on the translation being studied. The widely used King James Version phrases the verse as “Thou shalt not kill,” potentially leading to a misinterpretation of the verse. If the intended meaning of “Thou shalt not kill” was simply no killing, it would imply that all the bloodshed endorsed by God through the nation of Israel violated His commandment (Deuteronomy 20). Since God does not contradict His own commandments, it is evident that the verse does not call for a complete halt to taking another hu

Man’s life.

Why does man commit murder? We understand that we were created in God’s image “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”, (Genesis 1:27) and we were designed to live in harmony with God and with our fellow human beings. This harmony became unattainable once sin entered the scene (Genesis 3). Sin brought about the inclination to act violently against one another. Feelings such as anger, jealousy, pride, and hatred can drive man’s wicked inclination towards life-ending aggression. The first documented act of murder was when Cain killed his brother Abel “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”, (Genesis 4:8). Since then, taking the life of another has become commonplace and, in certain societal circles, deemed acceptable. Nevertheless, every life is significant to God, and recognizing that man was sinful and evil and had turned “lawless,” God established guidelines aimed at altering man’s conduct “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”, (1 John 3:4).

So, is there a distinction between murder and killing? Firstly, it is crucial to acknowledge that not all killing is immoral. For example, the apostle Paul discusses the authority of the state to execute evildoers (Romans 13:1-7). This pertains to what is commonly known as capital punishment. Most nations have penalties for murder. In certain instances, this results in the death of the perpetrator, and an appropriate method of execution is selected and carried out (Matthew 5:21; Exodus 21:14). Another instance of acceptable “killing” is that which is done during times of war and at the command of superiors. There were several instances in Scripture where God endorsed and allowed the taking of other lives (1 Samuel 11; Judges 6–7). Finally, although far from acceptable, manslaughter is yet another form of taking someone’s life. This unintentional act apparently occurred so frequently in biblical times that cities of refuge were designated for the manslayer to seek shelter in (Exodus 21:13; Joshua 20). Again, it was never God’s intention to have to resort to such a drastic measure as taking one’s life to rectify a situation. So, God does make exceptions for the taking of another’s life as long as it aligns with His will. However, premeditated murder of an individual is never God’s will.

What is murder in God’s eyes? From the human perspective, murder is the physical act of taking another’s life. However, we must also consider that God defines murder as any thought or feeling of deep-seated hatred or malice against another person. In other words, it is more than just a physical act that constitutes murder to God, who tells us that “everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” «Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. », (1 John 3:15 ESV). When we harbor hatred in our hearts for another, we have committed the sin of murder in God’s eyes. The disdain towards another person never has to be demonstrated outwardly because God looks upon the heart for the truth (1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 15:19). As Christians and as human beings, we know that unjustified killing is wrong. God

God’s Word is explicit on this matter: “You shall not commit murder.” We are required to obey what God commands, or else we will suffer the repercussions on the day of judgment.