“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13 NASB
God created humans in His image (Gen 1:26-27). Therefore, human life is worthy of dignity and respect. We are all image-bearers of God.
In the sixth commandment, God indicates that human life is valuable and that taking an innocent human life is prohibited. Human life is so precious that the consequence of taking a life is worthy of punishment.
Let’s see what do not murder means,
“The meaning of the Hebrew word in the Old Testament, several Hebrew words are used to describe different forms of killing. The specific word used in the sixth commandment, ratsach, refers to unlawfully taking a life. Matthew 19:18 translates the literal meaning: “You shall not murder.” Most modern Bible translations use the word murder to make it clear that the commandment refers to the unlawful taking of human life.” (West, 2010)
“Here, then, is the difference between killing and murder, Killing is unwitting and unintentional taking of life; murder consists, in the intentional taking of human life on the alone responsibility of human will.” (Morgan, 1901)
One can see that it is the intent. However, Jesus took it further and said it is not the action but what is in our hearts.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew 5:21- 22 ESV
You may not physically murder someone, but if you have angry, violent emotions against someone, it is the same as murder.
In this command, God shows us that He values life. God outlines His standard for caring for human life in the Old Testament’s first five books and the rest of Scripture.
“Thus, it’s clear that all murder is killing but not all killing is murder (Numbers 35:1–34).” (West,2010)
What does the Bible say about death?
The Bible talks about unlawful, accidental, and lawful deaths.
Unlawful deaths
Murder, negligence, and killing the unborn are unlawful deaths. Murder is a deliberate violent act of taking a human life. (Numbers 35:16–21). A negligent death is when someone dies due to the willful negligence of another. (Deuteronomy 22:8 & Exodus 21:28–29). Killing an unborn child is unlawful murder. (Exodus 21:22–25).
Accidental death
The Bible talks about accidental death when people are killed accidentally in a situation where there was no deliberate or premeditated attempt on that person’s life. (Numbers 35:10–15; 22–28).
Lawful deaths.
Often when people think, how could death be lawful? We have to look at it through the lens of God’s care for all human life and His attribute of justice for wrongdoing.
Capital punishment. God’s value for life is so significant that His justice for such a wrong is death. The punishment for murder was the death penalty (Exodus 21:12,14-17,23; 22:18–24)
In Exodus 22:2–3, God provided the Israelites the right to self-defense to protect their property and family from a nighttime intruder.
Lastly is war.
I think we all struggle with why God allows war. Yet, in a world cursed by sin, war is a reality. (Ecclesiastes 3:8). God used war in the ancient world of the Near East to punish and keep evil from increasing. Isaiah 2:4 prophecies hope. This hope is Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, who will end all wars.
Jesus taught us what it meant to keep the sixth commandment. It is not just our actions but the condition of our hearts. All life should be protected and promoted. That even extend to the one who murders because Christ provided forgiveness to all who repent and surrender their life to Him.
Bibliography
Morgan, G.C (1901) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
West, R.M. (2010) “The 10 Commandments—Then and Now”
