Exodus 20:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God ties the wellbeing of a whole people to the honor children show the parents who raised them.
The Context of Exodus 20:12
The fifth of the Ten Commandments, given at Mount Sinai, and the first one to carry a promise attached. It stands as a hinge between the commands about loving God and the commands about loving our neighbor.
What Does Exodus 20:12 Mean?
This is the first command with a promise woven into it, and the only one that speaks of long life on the land. To honour means more than to obey as a child; it means to give weight and respect to a father and mother across a whole lifetime, including the years when they grow old and frail and need to be cared for in turn. God knows that a society holds together or falls apart at the level of the family. Where the generations honor one another, the whole community is strong enough to last. The command reaches from the smallest household out to the future of a nation.
Jesus Himself lived this command perfectly. Even from the cross, in His own agony, He saw His mother and made sure she would be cared for (John 19:26-27). He honored His Father in heaven down to the last breath, obedient unto death. The same Lord who gave this command kept it fully, and He draws us into a family that outlasts every earthly one, where we are made the children of God.
Exodus 20:12 in the Original Language
kabed (כַּבֵּד), 'honour' -- literally to give weight to, to treat as heavy and worthy of respect and care.
How to Apply Exodus 20:12 Today
Honoring our parents is the work of a lifetime, growing from a child's obedience into an adult's care for those who once cared for us. God ties the strength of whole communities to it, generation honoring generation. And in Christ we are welcomed into a family larger still, made children of God who never lack a Father.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 20:12
What does Exodus 20:12 mean?
God ties the wellbeing of a whole people to the honor children show the parents who raised them.
What is the context of Exodus 20:12?
The fifth of the Ten Commandments, given at Mount Sinai, and the first one to carry a promise attached. It stands as a hinge between the commands about loving God and the commands about loving our neighbor.
How can I apply Exodus 20:12 today?
Honoring our parents is the work of a lifetime, growing from a child's obedience into an adult's care for those who once cared for us. God ties the strength of whole communities to it, generation honoring generation. And in Christ we are welcomed into a family larger still, made children of God who never lack a Father.