Decalogue
The Decalogue is the Ten Commandments God gave to Israel through Moses. It summarizes foundational covenant obligations regarding devotion to God and conduct toward others.
At a Glance
The Decalogue is the Ten Commandments God gave to Israel through Moses. It summarizes foundational covenant obligations regarding devotion to God and conduct toward others.
Description
The Decalogue is the traditional name for the Ten Commandments, the words God gave to Israel through Moses and recorded especially in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. In Scripture these commands stand at the heart of Israel’s covenant life, calling for exclusive loyalty to the Lord, reverence for his name, proper worship, honor within the family, and moral integrity in relation to other people. Conservative Christian interpretation commonly recognizes the Decalogue as a foundational expression of God’s moral will, while also noting that its covenantal setting is the Mosaic covenant. Orthodox Christians therefore affirm its abiding importance for understanding sin, righteousness, and love of God and neighbor, even though traditions differ over the continuing application of particular commandments, especially the Sabbath command, under the new covenant.