What are the Ten Commandments?

Look, I get it. When someone mentions the Ten Commandments, you might picture Charlton Heston with stone tablets or that dusty poster in your grandmother’s kitchen. But here’s the thing—these ancient rules have shaped Western civilization for thousands of years, and they’re way more relevant than you’d think.

So what exactly are they? The Ten Commandments are a set of biblical principles given to Moses on Mount Sinai that serve as the foundation of Judeo-Christian ethics. Think of them as the original “how not to be a terrible person” guide, delivered directly from God according to religious tradition.

Whether you’re religious, spiritual, or just curious about where modern morality comes from, understanding these commandments gives you serious insight into how billions of people view right and wrong.

Where Do These Rules Come From?

The story goes like this: Moses climbs up Mount Sinai, has a divine encounter, and comes down with two stone tablets containing God’s instructions for humanity.

You’ll find these commandments written in Exodus 20:2-17 and again in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (because apparently, important things bear repeating).

This wasn’t just some casual suggestion list. According to biblical tradition, this was Divine Revelation—God literally spelling out the non-negotiables for righteous living.

The Full List: What Are We Working With?

Here’s the thing about the Ten Commandments—they come in both director’s cut and TL;DR versions. Let me break down both for you.

The Long-Form Version (For People Who Like Details)

1. Worship only one God – No splitting your devotion
2. Don’t make idols or worship false gods – That golden calf incident? Yeah, this is why
3. Don’t take God’s name in vain – More than just avoiding curse words
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy – Your ancient permission slip to actually rest
5. Honor your father and mother – Even when they’re embarrassing
6. Don’t murder – Pretty straightforward, honestly
7. Don’t commit adultery – Keep your commitments
8. Don’t steal – Someone else’s stuff isn’t yours
9. Don’t bear false witness against your neighbor – Lying about others is a no-go
10. Don’t covet your neighbor’s possessions – Stop wanting what isn’t yours

The Short-Form Version (For the Skimmers)

• Worship one God
• Avoid idols
• Respect God’s name
• Keep Sabbath holy
• Honor parents
• No murder
• No adultery
• No stealing
• No lying
• No coveting

Notice something? The first few focus on your relationship with God, while the rest zero in on how you treat other people. It’s basically a two-part system: divine connection + human decency = moral principles for life.

Wait, Why Do Different Groups Number Them Differently?

Here’s where it gets mildly confusing (and honestly, kind of fascinating). Different religious traditions count these commandments differently, even though the actual content stays the same.

Protestant Christians typically use the straightforward numbering I listed above—ten distinct commandments, nice and clean.

Jewish tradition combines some commandments and rearranges others. They actually group “don’t murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet” into one mega-commandment. Bold move.

Catholics split the last commandment into two separate ones: “don’t covet your neighbor’s wife” AND “don’t covet your neighbor’s stuff.” They’re very specific about keeping your envy organized.

Does this matter practically? Not really. Everyone’s working from the same source material—they just organize the playlist differently.

What Do These Commandments Actually Mean for Real Life?

Let’s be real: these aren’t just dusty religious rules. They’re the foundation of Judeo-Christian ethics that influenced Western legal systems, moral philosophy, and basic social contracts.

Think about it:

• Don’t murder? That’s literally the basis of criminal law
• Don’t steal? Property rights in a nutshell
• Don’t lie about others? The entire concept of perjury and defamation
• Honor your parents? Family responsibility and elder respect

Even if you’re not religious, you’re probably living by most of these principles without thinking about it. They’ve become so embedded in society that we forget they had to be spelled out in the first place.

The Bigger Picture: Why Should You Care?

Here’s my honest take: whether you view these as divine commands or ancient wisdom literature, the Ten Commandments offer something we desperately need—a framework for righteous living that goes beyond “do whatever feels good.”

They push back against selfishness (no coveting), violence (no murder), dishonesty (no false witness), and broken commitments (no adultery). They create space for rest (Sabbath), family bonds (honor parents), and spiritual connection (worship one God).

In a world where everyone’s making up their own rules, these commandments say, “Actually, some things are objectively wrong, and here’s why.”

You don’t have to agree with every interpretation or religious application. But understanding these principles helps you grasp the moral foundation that shaped Western civilization and still guides billions of people today.

The Bottom Line

The Ten Commandments are ancient moral principles that continue to influence how we think about ethics, law, and human relationships. They’re part divine directive (according to believers) and part timeless wisdom about not being awful to each other.

You can study them from a religious perspective, a historical lens, or pure philosophical curiosity. Either way, they’re worth understanding—not because you need to follow them religiously, but because they reveal fundamental truths about what makes communities function and what separates humans from chaos.

And honestly? “Don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t lie” is pretty solid advice, regardless of where it came from.

FAQ