Three versions of the Decalogue
The Hebrew Scriptures contain three passages commonly associated with the Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:2–17, Exodus 34:12–26 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. They overlap in subject matter, but they are not identical lists.
Exodus 20
Exodus 20 is the form most often recognized in public discussion. It begins with a declaration about liberation from Egypt and continues with instructions concerning exclusive worship, images, divine names, Sabbath observance, family obligations, violence, sexual fidelity, property, testimony and desire.
Major themes in sequence
- Exclusive loyalty to Israel's God.
- Restrictions on images and misuse of the divine name.
- Keeping the Sabbath as a day of rest and holiness.
- Honouring parents.
- Protecting life, marriage, property and truthful testimony.
- Resisting covetous desire for a neighbour's household and possessions.
Exodus 34
Exodus 34 presents a different collection after the episode of the broken tablets. Its instructions focus on avoiding rival worship and religious alliances, rejecting idols, observing the festival of unleavened bread, dedicating firstborn animals and sons, resting on the seventh day, keeping harvest festivals and bringing offerings at appointed times.
Because this passage has a different emphasis and wording, readers have long debated how it relates to the other two passages and to the biblical references that speak of “ten” commandments.
Deuteronomy 5
Deuteronomy 5 closely parallels Exodus 20 while changing some wording and reasons. Its Sabbath instruction connects rest with remembrance of servitude and deliverance. The final prohibition is also phrased differently, distinguishing desire for a neighbour's wife from desire for a neighbour's house and property.
How the commandments are grouped
The passages themselves do not number each instruction in a universally agreed way. Jewish and Christian communities divide the opening statements and the final prohibition differently, producing several traditional arrangements that nevertheless total ten.
| Tradition or family of traditions | Opening division | Final division |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Jewish practice, many Protestants and Eastern Orthodox communities | The statement about no other gods is first; the prohibition on images follows. | False testimony is ninth; coveting is tenth. |
| Contemporary Jewish presentation | The opening declaration of liberation is treated as the first statement. | False testimony is ninth; coveting is tenth. |
| Roman Catholic and some Lutheran traditions | Exclusive worship and images are combined; misuse of the divine name follows. | Desire for a neighbour's wife and desire for property are counted separately. |
These differences matter when the Decalogue is displayed in schools, courthouses or other public settings. A layout that appears neutral may in fact reflect one community's inherited numbering.
Two tablets and two responsibilities
Ancient Jewish and Christian interpretation often connects the two tablets with two broad directions of obligation: duties toward God and duties toward other people. Another interpretation understands the tablets as duplicate copies of a treaty, one for each party. Both approaches show how the image of the tablets has shaped later teaching beyond the wording of the passages themselves.
Sources and related reading
The discussion draws on the biblical passages named above and on historical study of their language, composition and reception. For a focused treatment of how the three passages developed, see Sources of the three versions of the Decalogue. For the wider topic, visit the Ten Commandments menu.