Exodus 20:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou shalt not kill.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Because every human life bears God's own image, the taking of it is forbidden.
The Context of Exodus 20:13
The sixth of the Ten Commandments, given at Mount Sinai. It is one of the shortest verses in Scripture, two words in Hebrew, yet it guards the most basic gift one person owes another: the right to live.
What Does Exodus 20:13 Mean?
Two words in the original, and an entire foundation rests on them. The command guards human life because of where that life comes from: each person is made in the image of God, and to strike down a neighbor is to assault something that bears His likeness. The Hebrew word here points to the unlawful taking of life, the violence of murder. In a world where the strong have always preyed on the weak, this short line draws a bright line of protection around every life, the powerful and the powerless alike. To honor it is to see in each person something sacred, made and loved by God.
Jesus reached past the act to the heart behind it, teaching that anger and contempt are where murder begins, and calling us to be reconciled instead (Matthew 5:21-24). He went further than the command asked: rather than take life, He laid down His own, dying so that His enemies might live. The Lord who said thou shalt not kill gave His life to give us life. In Him we learn to guard and cherish what God has made.
Exodus 20:13 in the Original Language
ratsach (רָצַח), 'kill' -- to slay unlawfully, to murder; the violent and wrongful taking of human life.
How to Apply Exodus 20:13 Today
This command calls us to honor every life as something God made and loves, sacred from the strongest to the weakest. Jesus drew its meaning all the way into the heart, where contempt and anger first take root. And He showed us its opposite, laying down His own life so that we might live.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 20:13
What does Exodus 20:13 mean?
Because every human life bears God's own image, the taking of it is forbidden.
What is the context of Exodus 20:13?
The sixth of the Ten Commandments, given at Mount Sinai. It is one of the shortest verses in Scripture, two words in Hebrew, yet it guards the most basic gift one person owes another: the right to live.
How can I apply Exodus 20:13 today?
This command calls us to honor every life as something God made and loves, sacred from the strongest to the weakest. Jesus drew its meaning all the way into the heart, where contempt and anger first take root. And He showed us its opposite, laying down His own life so that we might live.