Holy Bible Online 
The 10 Commandments are a list of ten very important rules that God established for a righteous life. All other rules in the Bible depend on these rules. Those who obey the Ten Commandments please God.
The Ten Commandments are:
- Love God above all things and have no other gods.
- Do not make idols or images to worship.
- Do not take the name of God in vain.
- Rest on the seventh day and dedicate that day to God.
- Honor your father and mother.
- Do not murder.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Do not steal.
- Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- Do not covet your neighbor's possessions.
Jesus summarized these Ten Commandments into two great commandments. He said the greatest commandment is to love God with all that we are. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Explanation of each of the Ten Commandments
1st Commandment: One God
The first commandment is not to worship other gods. There is no other God. But many people worship false gods created to divert us from the true God. These gods enslave, but the true God liberates.
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2-3)
2nd Commandment: No idols
The second commandment warns us about idolatry. God is the Creator. An idol is merely a created thing. Nothing in creation compares to the Creator, so nothing deserves our worship. Only God has the power to help and sustain us. Idols can do nothing for us.
"You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:4-6)
3rd Commandment: Do not misuse the name of God
The third commandment cautions us about how we treat God's name. Using God's name in vain shows disrespect for Him. In the Bible, a name represented the person and who they were. Taking God's name in vain means treating God lightly or irreverently.
"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7)
4th Commandment: Sabbath day rest
The fourth commandment speaks of the importance of dedicating one day solely to God. In Hebrew, Sabbath means a day of rest. Rest in the Bible is always associated with the presence of God. Those who have Jesus find rest. Having one day a week to rest and worship God is good for physical and spiritual health.
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God." (Exodus 20:8-10a)
5th Commandment: Honor your father and mother
The fifth commandment shows how important it is to respect our parents. This is the first commandment with a promise for a long life. Honoring parents is about showing respect. Parents are not always right, and adult children are independent, but showing respect for parents is wise and it pleases God.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)
6th Commandment: Do not murder
The sixth commandment is about death and homicide. Jesus explained that this commandment is much deeper than it seems. Murder begins with hatred and anger. Anyone who hates their brother has already committed murder in their heart. Therefore, to obey the commandment, one must have a heart full of love.
"You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13)
7th Commandment: Do not commit adultery
The seventh commandment is about the importance of marriage. Adultery can also happen in the heart. Anyone who desires a woman is already committing adultery. Where there is desire, the act follows easily. Therefore, one must flee from sexual immorality and focus on God and spouse.
"You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14)
8th Commandment: Do not steal
The eighth commandment is about another crime: theft or robbery. Stealing is not only taking someone's belongings but also not paying the rightful wage or borrowing without returning. Those who steal commit injustice.
"You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15)
9th Commandment: Do not give false testimony
The ninth commandment is about lying, bearing false witness against someone. Lying is bad, and lying to harm someone else is even worse. Honesty and love for others are essential for a blessed life.
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)
10th Commandment: Do not covet
The tenth commandment warns us against envy. Coveting is wanting to have something that belongs to someone else. Covetousness stems from dissatisfaction and leads to envy, hatred, and many selfish acts. The Bible teaches us to be content with what we have. Only in Jesus do we find true satisfaction.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17)
Where to find the Ten Commandments in the Bible
In Exodus 20:1-17, we read:
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 You shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 You shall not murder.
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
- Exodus 20:1-17
You can also find them in Deuteronomy 5:6-21:
6 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
7 You shall have no other gods before me.
8 You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
12 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.
13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.
15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore, the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
17 You shall not murder.
18 You shall not commit adultery.
19 You shall not steal.
20 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
21 You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
- Deuteronomy 5:6-21
Bible verses about the commandments
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant - the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”. Matthew 22:37-40
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10