PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS
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In the sixth commandment, we encounter the command to not murder. Some English versions of the Bible have used the words, “Do not kill,” in their translations of the Hebrew text. The difference between the terms kill and murder is extremely important. In this devotional, we will see a very streamlined explanation for reading this as a prohibition of the act of murder rather than the much more generic word, kill.
The sixth commandment (Exodus 20:13) consists of two Hebrew words, (Lo Ter-its-ah), Murder Not!
Words
If we want to know the true meaning of this commandment, we need to examine these two words. The first of these words is that of aøl (Lo). This is an extreme prohibition that could read as under no circumstances should you do whatever comes next.
The second word is that of (Ter-its-ah). This is the word that needs to be understood in order to understand the nature of the command. This term is used 49 times in the Hebrew Bible and if we were to read each occurrence in context, we would soon get a real feel for the action being prohibited in this commandment.
Clarification
In the passage that follows, we can hear a very useful example of what this term meant to those who read the message of the Bible in its original languages.
20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die 21 or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.
22 “ ‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally 23 or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, 24 the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations.
(Numbers 35:20-24 NIV11)
Definition
This is an explanatory note on how to apply the principle of the sixth commandment into the daily lives of the people of Israel as they attempted to follow the law of God in their new theocentric society.
In this passage, we hear a very clear definition of biblical murder (Ter-its-ah).
In verses 20-21 we hear that murder must include the elements of intention, malice, enmity, and violence. The person who was guilty of such action against another was labeled as guilty of the sin of breaking the sixth commandment.
In verses 22-24, the person who takes life without the elements of malice, preplanning, enmity, and violence is not considered guilty of breaking the sixth commandment. They may be held responsible for their actions but they are not considered to have broken this commandment.
Authorized
There is a third example of the taking of life in this passage that needs to be examined. The one who is found guilty by the assembly (Numbers 35:30), must be put to death under the authority of the governing body. This is not murder, nor is it an accident. It is the authorized taking of human life that is carried out on purpose against those who are found guilty of murder.
Conclusions
We could repeat this process 47 more times, examining the use of the Hebrew term, Ter-its-ah, and after such a study we would conclude the following:
The sixth commandment prohibits the taking of another person’s life due to a violent action that stems from preplanning, malice, and personal enmity. This is the biblical definition of Ter-its-ah (murder).
Based on this truncated summary, I would like to make the following remarks in conclusion:
- The sixth commandment is not a blanket prohibition of the taking of any human life, no matter the cause.
- The taking of human life is required by the law given by God.
- When agents of the assembly act under the authority of the people in order to bring justice, execute war, protect the weak, or enforce the law, they are not in violation of the Sixth Commandment.
Moral Injury
For those who have been required to carry out justice or the commands of their superiors in the execution of the affairs of state, these actions are not necessarily a violation of the sixth commandment.
There needs to be a clear distinction made between the taking of human life in service of shared values and goals of a nation or people, and the wanton destruction of life that stems from malice, enmity, and personal gain.
Too many people have suffered moral injury because of confusion between “do not kill and do not murder.” A biblical view of the taking of human life as a result of national action or in pursuit of justice would certainly go a long way to helping those who have served their country or community in such a way to not feel needlessly convicted by the sixth commandment.
Prayer
- Today I would ask you to pray for those in your community who provide protection under the authority of the law.
- Pray for those people that we as a society have called to go out in our name to carry out the plans and orders of our national leaders.
- Pray for those who have suffered because of their willingness to stand up for those who were in need of protection.
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Works at MTN. CHURCH
Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church
Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at Baylor University
Studied at Texas Tech University
Went to Castle Hills First Baptist
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