The Ten Commandments are a set of moral and religious laws given by God to the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai, as recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus. The commandments are considered foundational to Jewish and Christian religious belief and practice, and are often seen as the cornerstone of ethical behavior.
Here is a brief summary of the Ten Commandments:
- "You shall have no other gods before me." This commandment instructs believers to worship and honor only one God, and to not worship any other gods or idols.
- "You shall not make for yourself an idol." This commandment prohibits the creation or worship of any physical representation of God or any other deity.
- "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." This commandment forbids using the name of God in a disrespectful or irreverent manner.
- "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." This commandment requires believers to set aside one day each week as a day of rest and worship.
- "Honor your father and your mother." This commandment requires believers to show respect and obedience to their parents.
- "You shall not murder." This commandment prohibits the taking of another person's life.
- "You shall not commit adultery." This commandment forbids sexual activity outside of marriage.
- "You shall not steal." This commandment prohibits taking something that does not belong to you without permission.
- "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." This commandment forbids lying or giving false testimony about another person.
- "You shall not covet." This commandment instructs believers to not desire or envy anything that belongs to another person.