Deuteronomy Chapter 5 — Restating the Ten Commandments
Moses reminds the people of Israel of the covenant made at Mount Horeb and restates the Ten Commandments as the foundation of their relationship with God.
1Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears today, that you may learn them, and observe to do them.”
2The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
3The LORD didn’t make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive today.
4The LORD spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the middle of the fire,
5(I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to show you the LORD’s word; for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn’t go up onto the mountain) saying,
6“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
7“You shall have no other gods before me.
8“You shall not make a carved image for yourself—any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
9You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me
10and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD*LORD or GOD in all caps is from the Hebrew יהוה Yahweh except when otherwise noted as being from the short form יה Yah. your God;†or, You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.
12“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.
13You shall labor six days, and do all your work;
14but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, in which you shall not do any work—neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
16“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land which the LORD your God gives 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. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
22The LORD spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me.
23When you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
24and you said, “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the middle of the fire. We have seen today that God does speak with man, and he lives.
25Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the LORD our God’s voice any more, then we shall die.
26For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the middle of the fire, as we have, and lived?
27Go near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say, and tell us all that the LORD our God tells you; and we will hear it, and do it.”
28The LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me; and the LORD said to me, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken.
29Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!
30“Go tell them, ‘Return to your tents.’
31But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess.”
32You shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn away to the right hand or to the left.
33You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Deuteronomy 5:6
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
This verse establishes God's authority and His role as the Deliverer before the specific laws are listed.
Deuteronomy 5:29
“Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”
This verse reveals God's desire for His people to possess a sincere heart of obedience for their own long-term benefit.
Deuteronomy 5:33
“You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”
It summarizes the ultimate purpose of the law as a path toward life and prosperity in the promised land.
Chapter Summary
In Deuteronomy Chapter 5, Moses gathers the assembly of Israel to reaffirm the covenant established at Mount Horeb. He emphasizes that this covenant applies directly to the current generation standing before him, not just their ancestors. Moses then recites the Ten Commandments, which include prohibitions against other gods and idols, honoring parents, and observing the Sabbath. Notably, the command for the Sabbath includes a specific reminder of their former slavery in Egypt as a motive for providing rest to servants and animals. The chapter also describes the intense scene at the mountain, where the people were so terrified by the fire and the power of God's voice that they requested Moses to act as a mediator. God accepts their request and expresses a divine desire for the people to always have a heart that fears Him and keeps His commandments so that they and their descendants may prosper in the land.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moses repeats the commandments to the new generation of Israelites who were either children or not yet born when the original covenant was made at Mount Sinai. This ensures they understand their personal responsibility to uphold the law before entering the Promised Land.
While both versions command rest, Deuteronomy 5 links the Sabbath to Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It emphasizes that servants and livestock must rest because the Israelites themselves were once servants who were liberated by God's power.
The Israelites were terrified by the fire, darkness, and the overwhelming power of God's voice. They feared that hearing God directly would cause them to die, leading them to ask Moses to serve as their intermediary to receive the law.
Study Note
The version of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5 places a unique emphasis on social ethics by ensuring that even animals and foreign residents receive rest on the Sabbath.
Related Chapters
Exodus 20
This chapter contains the first record of the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai.
Matthew 5
Jesus discusses the deeper moral implications of several commandments in His Sermon on the Mount.
Hebrews 12
This passage contrasts the terrifying nature of Mount Sinai with the grace found in the new covenant.
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