The Holy Bible Verses

50 Bible Verses About the Ten Commandments

Explore the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:1-17, their purpose, relevance, and how they guide a faithful life today.

By The Editorial Team

Verses sourced from the World English Bible (public domain). Selection follows our editorial policy. Last reviewed 2026-04-23. See all sources.

The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:1-17, serve as foundational ethical guidelines for moral living and community relations. They emphasize the importance of loyalty to God, respect for others, and personal integrity. These commandments continue to be relevant today, guiding individuals in their spiritual and social responsibilities.

“GodAfter “God”, the Hebrew has the two letters “Aleph Tav” (the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet), not as a word, but as a grammatical marker. spoke all these words, saying,”
— Exodus 20:1-17 WEB

Moses stands before the people, presenting God’s words that have been entrusted to him. These are not mere suggestions or guidelines, but commandments delivered directly from God. In Exodus 20:1-17, God lays out the Ten Commandments, which form a foundation for living in harmony with Him and each other. The first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me,” sets the stage for a life centered on worship and devotion to the one true God (Exodus 20:3). These directives are more than rules; they are a framework for a life of faith and obedience.

The importance of the Ten Commandments is evident as they are reiterated and expanded upon throughout the Bible. Exodus 16:28 questions the people’s reluctance to follow God’s laws, highlighting our struggle with obedience. Still, these commandments remain a source of guidance and moral compass. Through them, God calls us into a covenant relationship, asking us to live with integrity and righteousness. As we reflect on these commandments, they help us understand God’s character and His desires for humanity. The call to follow them is not just a call to obedience, but a call to a deeper relationship with God.

50 verses

  1. 1

    “Yahweh said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?”

  2. 2

    “Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.”

  3. 3

    “GodAfter “God”, the Hebrew has the two letters “Aleph Tav” (the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet), not as a word, but as a grammatical marker. spoke all these words, saying,”

  4. 4

    ““I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

  5. 6

    “Moses came and told the people all Yahweh’s words, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which Yahweh has spoken will we do.””

  6. 7

    “Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them.””

  7. 8

    “Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other they were written.”

  8. 9

    “Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them.”

  9. 10

    “These are the statutes, ordinances and laws, which Yahweh made between him and the children of Israel in Mount Sinai by Moses.”

  10. 11

    “These are the commandments which Yahweh commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.”

  11. 12

    “Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded.”

  12. 13

    “Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of Yahweh. These are their journeys according to their goings out.”

  13. 14

    “Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe;”

  14. 15

    “These are the commandments and the ordinances which Yahweh commanded by Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.”

  15. 16

    “Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses began to declare this law, saying,”

  16. 17

    “He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets.”

  17. 19

    “These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt,”

  18. 20

    ““I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

  19. 22

    ““You shall not make a carved image for yourself, any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

  20. 23

    “He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Yahweh spoke to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly: and Yahweh gave them to me.”

  21. 24

    “These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess it, all the days that you live on the earth.”

  22. 25

    “Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today.”

  23. 26

    “These are the words of the covenant which Yahweh commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.”

  24. 27

    “Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.”

  25. 28

    “When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,”

  26. 31

    “Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”

  27. 32

    “He wrote there on the stones a copy of Moses’ law, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.”

  28. 33

    “Afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.”

  29. 34

    “The statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever more. You shall not fear other gods.”

  30. 35

    ““You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,”

  31. 36

    “and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,”

  32. 37

    “I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.”

  33. 38

    “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,”

  34. 39

    ““Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.”

  35. 40

    “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’Deuteronomy 6:5”

  36. 42

    “A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’Leviticus 19:18”

  37. 43

    “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’”Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20”

  38. 44

    “You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20”

  39. 45

    “Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?””

  40. 46

    “Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22 What then do you say about her?””

  41. 47

    “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting, unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21”

  42. 48

    “For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”Leviticus 18:5”

  43. 49

    “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,”TR adds “You shall not give false testimony,” “You shall not covet,” Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21 and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”Leviticus 19:18”

  44. 50

    “For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18 also said, “Do not commit murder.”Exodus 10:13; Deuteronomy 5:17 Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

For your week

Reflect

Consider how the Ten Commandments shape your daily life. They are more than historical relics; they guide us in loving God and others. Reflect on how these commandments invite you into a deeper relationship with God.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your commandments. Help us to live by them, honoring You in all we do. Guide our hearts to love You and others more deeply. Amen.

Apply

This week, choose one commandment to focus on and live out intentionally. Reflect on its meaning daily and find practical ways to embody it in your actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Ten Commandments?

The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:1-17, are divine laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. They include instructions to worship only God, honor the Sabbath, and respect others by prohibiting actions like murder, theft, and adultery. These commandments serve as fundamental principles for ethical and spiritual conduct.

Are the Ten Commandments still valid?

Yes, the Ten Commandments remain valid today. Jesus affirmed their importance in Matthew 5:17-19, saying He came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. They continue to guide Christians in living a life aligned with God's will, emphasizing love for God and others as the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).

Why did God give the law?

God gave the law to establish a covenant relationship with His people and guide them in righteous living. The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:1-17, serve as a moral and spiritual foundation. They reveal God's standards and desires for humanity, promoting a life of love, justice, and worship.

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