The Sixth Commandment is one of the Ten Commandments in the Bible. It is interpreted differently by different religious groups. Here are some of the interpretations:
- "Thou shalt not murder" under the Philonic division used by Hellenistic Jews, Greek Orthodox and Protestants except Lutherans, or the Talmudic division of the third-century Jewish Talmud.
- "Thou shalt not commit adultery" under the Augustinian division used by Roman Catholics and Lutherans.
According to the Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org, this commandment must refer to unlawful killing because there are several occasions in Scripture where God orders His people to take the lives of others. Moreover, in certain cases, killing is not only allowed, it is mandated. Yet to say that we have kept this commandment if we merely refrain from murder would be to miss the spirit of this particular law. The commandment deals with inward realities as well — in this case, those inner attitudes that, if left unchecked, will result in murder. When we seethe with rage that is unjust and unchecked, we have broken the sixth commandment.
In summary, the Sixth Commandment is "Thou shalt not murder" or "Thou shalt not commit adultery" depending on the religious interpretation.
