Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are a set of religious and moral directives in Judaism and Christianity, presented in the Hebrew Bible as laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The Ten Commandments are a foundational set of religious and moral laws in Judaism and Christianity, given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Also called the Decalogue, they appear in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, with wording differences across traditions.

Biblical sources

The Ten Commandments are recorded in two main biblical passages: Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. The two versions are similar but not identical in wording, which has led to different traditional enumerations among Jewish and Christian groups.

Meaning and structure

The commandments form a covenant code combining religious obligations (such as worship of God and Sabbath observance) with social ethics (such as prohibitions on murder, theft, and false witness). In Catholic teaching, the first three commandments concern love of God, and the remaining seven concern love of neighbour.

Religious significance and numbering traditions

In Judaism, the commandments are central to the covenant between God and Israel. In Christianity, they remain a major moral reference. The total is always ten, but different traditions group them differently—for example, on how to divide commands about idolatry, Sabbath, and coveting. In Canada, they are widely referenced in religious life, education, and debates about public ethics.