Decalogue
Summary
The Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, written on two stone tablets and forming the foundation of the Mosaic covenant.
☩Origin and Terminology
The term 'Decalogue' derives from the Greek deka (ten) and logos (word), corresponding to the Hebrew 'ten words' found in Scripture. The commandments were engraved by God Himself on two stone tablets given to Moses on Mount Sinai. When Moses shattered the first tablets upon discovering Israel's idolatry with the golden calf, God renewed them. Scripture explicitly states they were 'written by the finger of God,' an expression implying an immediate divine act.
☩Division of the Commandments
Though Scripture attests to exactly ten commandments, their precise division has been disputed throughout history. The Talmudic division treats 'I am the Lord thy God' as the first commandment, while the Origenian division—followed by Greek and Reformed churches—makes 'Thou shalt have no other gods' the first and separates the prohibition of images as the second. The Lutheran and Roman Catholic tradition combines the first two but divides the final prohibition against coveting into two commandments. All agree the first table concerns duties to God and the second concerns duties to neighbor.
☩New Testament References
The Decalogue is referenced five times in the New Testament, where the commandments are called entolai (commandments). Jesus summarized them as loving God with all one's heart and loving one's neighbor as oneself. The apostle Paul cited the commandments concerning adultery, murder, theft, and covetousness, affirming their continuing moral authority. Notably, the New Testament citations tend to emphasize the second table—duties toward others—assuming the first table as foundational.
Related Verses18 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.American Tract Society, "Decalogue," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).
- 2.Richard Watson, "Decalogue," in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (John Mason, 1831).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Decalogue," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 4.Charles G. Herbermann et al. (ed.), "Decalogue," in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Robert Appleton Company, 1907–1912).