The Sixth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Murder
We now move to the laws that govern our direct physical relationship with one another. The fifth commandment established the foundation of society in the family, and this one protects the most precious thing in that society: life itself. The Sixth Commandment is simple: " Thou shalt not kill . " (Exodus 20:13) However, the common English translation misses the powerful, specific meaning of the Hebrew. It Is Murder, Not Just Killing The Hebrew word used here is רָצַח (ratsach), written in Paleo Hebrew as 𐤓𐤑𐤇. This word specifically means "to murder"—the slaying of a human being with premeditation or malice. It is distinct from other words that mean "to kill" (like in war, self-defense, or by accident). By choosing ratsach, Yahuah established the sanctity of human life and reserved the right to take life for Himself. This commandment protects the victim from the malicious intent of the murderer. Murder of the Heart The law goes deeper than the phys...