Importance of the Sixth Commandment

The Sixth Commandment in the Bible is "You shall not murder”. The commandment is found in Exodus 20:13 and is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:17. It is important because it establishes the absolute sanctity of human life as a gift. Murder is taking a human’s life away. Because humans were created in the image of God (Genesis 9:6), every person possesses inherent dignity and value that should not be discarded or exploited.

Again, since human beings are created in the image of God, every person bears His divine image; therefore, committing murder is viewed as an attack on His creation and is a rejection of the inherent dignity given to human life. If someone breaks this commandment, it is a sin because human life is sacred, and taking an innocent life unlawfully violates God’s divine authority and His moral law. The original Hebrew word used to describe “murder” is ratsakh (lo' tirtsakh), it is a broad term that can cover both intentional and unintentional taking of life.

Jesus expands on murder and if someone harbors unjust anger against someone, they break the spiritual intent of the Sixth Commandment. Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:21–22, explicitly expands on the definition of this commandment:

“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘You must not murder anyone. Anyone who murders another will be judged.’ But I tell you, if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be judged. If you say bad things to a brother or sister, you will be judged by the council. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

Life and death belong to God's domain. When a person unlawfully murders someone, they act as if they own life or hold the right to judge and destroy another person, which is considered an act of human pride and rebellion. Murder begins in the heart with uncontrolled anger, hatred, and malice. In this view, holding deep-seated hatred toward someone is a form of spiritual murder.