The 10 Commandments

The 10 Commandments are among the most well-known rules in the Bible and all of history. But what if they are more than just rules? What if they are a pathway to a universe of wisdom?

After Yahweh delivers the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, he enters into a covenant agreement with them at Mount Sinai. His first command to them is, “You shall have no other elohim before me.” What are elohim, and why does God ask for undivided allegiance?

In the ancient world, people created statues known as idols to represent deities and spiritual beings. But in the 2nd Commandment, Yahweh forbids the making of idols of himself or any other spiritual being. What is the harm in making idols?

God forbids Israel to take his name in vain. The most literal translation of “take” is actually “carry.” What is God’s name, and what does it mean to carry it?

Yahweh commands Israel to stop their laboring and rest on the seventh day of every week. What is the point of this weekly practice, and how can it shape those who follow it?

Yahweh commands Israel to honor their parents so that they may have long lives in the promised land. Why is there a connection between parents and life in the land, and what does it look like to honor them?

Most contemporary English translations of the 6th Commandment read, “You shall not murder.” But the Hebrew word used in the commandment refers to ending a life, unrelated to purpose or premeditation. Why does God choose such a broad prohibition?

God tells Israel not to commit adultery, which involves having sex with someone who is in a marriage covenant. Why is protecting marriage so important to God, and what does marriage ultimately point to?

God forbids Israel from stealing—simple enough. But what underlying beliefs cause someone to steal in the first place? And what is the deeper opportunity beyond simply not taking what belongs to our neighbor?

A common summary for the 9th Commandment is “Do not lie.” But it actually means “Do not bear false witness against your neighbor,” drawing attention to a specific kind of lying in a public, legal setting. Why does it emphasize the communal aspect?

The 10th Commandment is often translated as “Do not covet,” but the Hebrew simply uses the common word for desire. Why do the 10 Commandments end this way, and how can we desire what is good?

We concluded the video series by reflecting on how the 10 Commandments invite us to listen to God’s wisdom and meditate on the whole biblical story. And we wrapped up the podcast series with some final insights about how to approach these commands—and all biblical laws.

Explore four crafted resources to help you go deeper with a group or on your own.

Check out an interactive experience, meet the team behind the 10 Commandments series, save wallpapers for your device, listen to the series’ original music, and download the single anthology video which combines all animated videos in the series.