Ten commandments in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

What is the Ten Commandments?
THE TEN COMMAND'MENTS
By this title the writing contained on the two tables of stone given on Mount Sinai is usually designated. But the phrase, in the original, is "the ten words," and it were well to retain it. The Greek word decalogue exactly expresses the Hebrew. " The word of the Lord," the constantly-recurring term for the fullest revelation, was higher than any phrase expressing merely a command, and carried with it more the idea of a self-fulfilling power. Other phrases for the ten words are "the words of the covenant," "the tables of testimony," or more briefly "the testimony." Ex 25:16; Ex 31:18, etc. The chest which contained the two tables was therefore called the ark of the covenant; the tent under whose cover the tables rested became the tabernacle of witness or of testimony. Ex 38:21; Num 17:7; 2 Chr 24:6, etc. The ten words, originally spoken, Ex 20:1, were written by the finger of God on two stone tablets, Ex 24:12; but Moses having broken them in his anger, those the Jews possessed were duplicates. Ex 34:1. It is common to assign four "words" to the first table and six to the second. But the command to honor parents is based upon the Fatherhood of God, and is a religious duty. St. Paul, in Rom 13:9, enumerates only five commands as applying to man exclusively. It is at least possible that all the commandments were in the concise legal form in which some are expressed. The "reasons annexed" are probably mere scholia, or notes, which crept into the text, or else verbal commentary of God, made at the time. In this way the discrepancy between Ex 20 and Deut 5 is easiest removed. The number ten symbolizes the comprehensiveness and completeness of this moral law. The first table, with five commandments, enjoins the duties to God; the second, with five commandments, the duties to our neighbor. All these duties are comprehended and summed up in this: Thou shalt love God supremely, and thy neighbor as thyself. Love is the fulfilment of the whole law. Matt 22:37-38; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8. The civil and ceremonial law of the Jewish theocracy rested on the Decalogue, and is divided into seven groups, each with ten commandments.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'ten commandments' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Schaff's

Copyright Information
© Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary Home
Bible History Online Home

Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
Online Bible (KJV)
Naves Topical Bible
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Popular in the New Testament

Popular in the
New Testament