The Meaning of Exodus 20:13 Explained

Exodus 20:13

KJV: Thou shalt not kill.

YLT: 'Thou dost not murder.

Darby: Thou shalt not kill.

ASV: Thou shalt not kill.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt not kill. 

What does Exodus 20:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God did not forbid killing per se. He commanded capital punishment and some war. The Hebrew word used here specifies murder, not just killing. The Israelites were to execute murderers and others under the Mosaic Law. However, He prohibited taking a human life without divine authorization. This included suicide (cf. John 3:15). [1]

Context Summary

Exodus 20:1-17 - The "ten Words" Spoken At Sinai
The Law was given by the disposition of angels, through the medium of Moses. See John 1:17; Acts 7:53. It tells us, not what God is, for that is only shown in Jesus Christ, but what man should be. It combines in a concise form that moral code which is part of the nature of things, and is written on man's conscience. See Romans 2:5. Even the Fourth Commandment is deeply graven on our physical nature. These laws are mostly negative, but their positive side is stated in Matthew 5:1-48. For practical purposes this divine code consists of two divisions or tables; the first, of our duties toward God; the second, of those to man; but these are summed up in the one great law of love. See Mark 12:29-31; Romans 13:8-10 and Galatians 5:14. Our Lord Jesus stands surety for us at the bar of Sinai. By His righteousness imputed and imparted, by His obedience and death, by the gracious indwelling of His Spirit, He comes "not to destroy, but to fulfill." See Matthew 5:17; Romans 8:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 20

1  The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah
18  The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them
21  Idolatry is forbidden
23  Of what sort the altar should be

What do the individual words in Exodus 20:13 mean?

Not You shall murder -
לֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח ס

תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח  You  shall  murder 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָצַח  
Sense: to murder, slay, kill.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation