The Sixth Commandment in the Bible is: “You shall not murder.” This comes from Exodus 20:13 and is one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses. Below is a fuller, article-style answer in the format you requested.

What Is the Sixth Commandment in the Bible?

Quick Scoop

  • The sixth commandment is: “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).
  • Older English traditions often phrase it as “Thou shalt not kill,” but most modern translations clarify it as “murder,” meaning intentional, unlawful killing of a human being.
  • The commandment is grounded in the belief that human life is sacred because people are made in the image of God.

Where It Appears in the Bible

The Ten Commandments are first listed in:

  1. Exodus 20 – God gives the commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.
  2. Deuteronomy 5 – Moses repeats the commandments to the new generation of Israelites.

In both places, the sixth commandment is a short, direct line:

“You shall not murder.”

Many older English Bibles (like the King James Version) use:

“Thou shalt not kill,”

but biblical scholars and modern translations emphasize that the Hebrew word refers specifically to murder (unjust, intentional killing), not every form of killing in every context.

What “You Shall Not Murder” Means

Core idea

At its heart, the sixth commandment is about protecting and valuing human life. It tells communities:

  • Do not intentionally and unjustly take someone else’s life.
  • Do not act out of hatred, revenge, or personal gain in a way that destroys another person’s life.

Important nuances Christians often discuss

Many Christian teachers and theologians point out that:

  • The commandment focuses on murder , not all killing in every scenario.
  • The Bible elsewhere discusses topics like:
    • Self-defense
    • War
    • Legal penalties (including capital punishment in some Old Testament laws)

These topics are debated among Christians, but the Sixth Commandment clearly forbids personal, unlawful, or vengeful killing.

How Different Traditions Number the Commandments

Christian traditions agree on the content but sometimes differ slightly in numbering:

Tradition Typical Wording of the 6th Commandment
Most Protestant churches “You shall not murder.”
Catholic & Lutheran numbering Also “You shall not kill/murder,” though the numbering of other commandments around it may differ.
Even with different numbering systems, the line “You shall not murder” is universally recognized as one of the Ten Commandments.

Beyond the Literal: Anger, Hatred, and the Heart

In Christian teaching, especially drawing from the New Testament, the sixth commandment is often interpreted as going deeper than just physical killing. Jesus connects murder with inner attitudes like:

  • Uncontrolled anger
  • Contempt
  • Dehumanizing words

The idea is that murder begins in the heart: when we treat others as less than fully human, as worthless, or as obstacles to be removed, we are violating the spirit of the commandment even if we never physically kill someone. So many sermons and Bible studies will say that keeping the Sixth Commandment means:

  • Refusing to nurture hatred or violent fantasies.
  • Choosing reconciliation over revenge.
  • Speaking about others in ways that affirm their dignity.

Why This Commandment Still Matters Today

Even in 2026, with news cycles full of violence, war, and social conflict, the Sixth Commandment shows up in a lot of conversations about ethics and law. People reference it when discussing:

  • Homicide and violent crime
  • War and pacifism
  • The death penalty
  • Abortion and euthanasia
  • Suicide and self-harm (in some Christian interpretations, because life is seen as God’s gift)

Different Christian groups may arrive at very different positions on each of these, but they often start from a shared premise drawn from the sixth commandment: human life has profound value and should not be taken lightly.

Mini Sections: Quick Facts

Short definition

  • Sixth Commandment (Bible) : “You shall not murder.”
  • Focus: Protecting human life from unjust, intentional killing.

Common questions people ask

  1. Is it “kill” or “murder”?
    • Many modern translations use “murder” to capture the specific meaning of the original Hebrew word.
  2. Does this forbid all killing, including in war or self-defense?
    • Opinions vary among Christians. Some are pacifist; others see limited, tragic situations where killing may be allowed.
  3. Does it apply only to actions, or also to thoughts and attitudes?
    • Many Christian teachings say it also challenges hatred, cruelty, and dehumanization.

Mini Story-style Illustration

Imagine a small ancient village in Israel. Two men argue over a piece of land, and the tension grows day by day. Without a boundary like the Sixth Commandment, that conflict could easily end in a killing, followed by a revenge killing, and then a feud that tears families apart. The command “You shall not murder” works like a guardrail. It tells both men:

  • Your anger does not give you the right to end another person’s life.
  • There must be other ways—judges, elders, reconciliation—to deal with wrongs.

This ancient commandment still functions like that today: a moral guardrail that says, no matter how angry you are, another person’s life is not yours to take.

SEO-style Wrap-Up (TL;DR)

If you’re wondering “what is the sixth commandment in the Bible?” the direct answer is:

The Sixth Commandment is “You shall not murder” (often known as “Thou shalt not kill”), a command that underscores the sacred value of human life and forbids intentional, unjust killing.

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