The Ten Commandments in Hebrew
The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Bible, and this is the version in Exodus 20. Some of them are astonishingly short in Hebrew: only two words each. That makes them easy to read and easy to remember.
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The text and translation
וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל־ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה לֵאמֹר׃
God spoke all these words, saying,
Word by word
- וַיְדַבֵּר
- to speak
- אֱלֹהִים
- God, gods
- אֵת
- (marks the direct object)
- כָּל
- all, every
- הַדְּבָרִים
- word, thing
- הָאֵלֶּה
- these
- לֵאמֹר
- to say
אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים׃
“I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Word by word
- אָנֹכִי
- I
- יְהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- God, gods
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- הוֹצֵאתִיךָ
- to go out
- מֵאֶרֶץ
- earth
- מִצְרַיִם
- Egypt
- מִבֵּית
- house
- עֲבָדִים
- slave
לֹא יִהְיֶה־ לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל־ פָּנָיַ׃
“You shall have no other gods before me.
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- יִהְיֶה
- to be, become
- לְךָ
- to, for
- אֱלֹהִים
- God, gods
- אֲחֵרִים
- another
- עַל
- above
- פָּנָיַ
- face
לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה־ לְךָ פֶסֶל וְכָל־ תְּמוּנָה אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וַאֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת וַאֲשֶׁר בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ׃
“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תַעֲשֶׂה
- to do
- לְךָ
- to, for
- פֶסֶל
- idol
- וְכָל
- all, every
- תְּמוּנָה
- likeness
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- בַּשָּׁמַיִם
- heavens
- מִמַּעַל
- higher part
- וַאֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- בָּאָרֶץ
- earth
- מִתָּחַת
- under, instead of
- וַאֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- בַּמַּיִם
- water
- מִתַּחַת
- under, instead of
- לָאָרֶץ
- earth
לֹא־ תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָהֶם וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם כִּי אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֵל קַנָּא פֹּקֵד עֲוֺן אָבֹת עַל־ בָּנִים עַל־ שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל־ רִבֵּעִים לְשֹׂנְאָי׃
you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה
- to bow down
- לָהֶם
- to, for
- וְלֹא
- not
- תָעָבְדֵם
- to work
- כִּי
- that, because, when
- אָנֹכִי
- I
- יְהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- God, gods
- אֵל
- god
- קַנָּא
- jealous
- פֹּקֵד
- to attend to
- עֲוֺן
- iniquity
- אָבֹת
- father
- עַל
- above
- בָּנִים
- son
- עַל
- above
- שִׁלֵּשִׁים
- pertaining to the third
- וְעַל
- above
- רִבֵּעִים
- pertaining to the fourth
- לְשֹׂנְאָי
- to hate
וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד לַאֲלָפִים לְאֹהֲבַי וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מִצְוֺתָי׃
and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Word by word
- וְעֹשֶׂה
- to do
- חֶסֶד
- loyal love, kindness
- לַאֲלָפִים
- thousand
- לְאֹהֲבַי
- to love
- וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי
- to keep
- מִצְוֺתָי
- commandment
לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת־ שֵׁם־ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַשָּׁוְא כִּי לֹא יְנַקֶּה יְהוָה אֵת אֲשֶׁר־ יִשָּׂא אֶת־ שְׁמוֹ לַשָּׁוְא׃
“You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תִשָּׂא
- to lift
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- שֵׁם
- name
- יְהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- God, gods
- לַשָּׁוְא
- worthlessness
- כִּי
- that, because, when
- לֹא
- not
- יְנַקֶּה
- to be empty
- יְהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֵת
- (marks the direct object)
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- יִשָּׂא
- to lift
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- שְׁמוֹ
- name
- לַשָּׁוְא
- worthlessness
זָכוֹר אֶת־ יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ׃
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Word by word
- זָכוֹר
- to remember
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- יוֹם
- day
- הַשַּׁבָּת
- Sabbath
- לְקַדְּשׁוֹ
- to be set apart
שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל־ מְלַאכְתֶּךָ׃
You shall labor six days, and do all your work,
Word by word
- שֵׁשֶׁת
- six
- יָמִים
- day
- תַּעֲבֹד
- to work
- וְעָשִׂיתָ
- to do
- כָּל
- all, every
- מְלַאכְתֶּךָ
- work
וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹא־ תַעֲשֶׂה כָל־ מְלָאכָה אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ־ וּבִתֶּךָ עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ וּבְהֶמְתֶּךָ וְגֵרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ׃
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates;
Word by word
- וְיוֹם
- day
- הַשְּׁבִיעִי
- seventh
- שַׁבָּת
- Sabbath
- לַיהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- God, gods
- לֹא
- not
- תַעֲשֶׂה
- to do
- כָל
- all, every
- מְלָאכָה
- work
- אַתָּה
- you (masc. sg.)
- וּבִנְךָ
- son
- וּבִתֶּךָ
- daughter
- עַבְדְּךָ
- slave
- וַאֲמָתְךָ
- maid
- וּבְהֶמְתֶּךָ
- beast
- וְגֵרְךָ
- sojourner
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ
- gate
כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת־ יָמִים עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֶת־ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־ הָאָרֶץ אֶת־ הַיָּם וְאֶת־ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ בָּם וַיָּנַח בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי עַל־ כֵּן בֵּרַךְ יְהוָה אֶת־ יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ׃
for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.
Word by word
- כִּי
- that, because, when
- שֵׁשֶׁת
- six
- יָמִים
- day
- עָשָׂה
- to do
- יְהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- הַשָּׁמַיִם
- heavens
- וְאֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- הָאָרֶץ
- earth
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- הַיָּם
- sea
- וְאֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- כָּל
- all, every
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- בָּם
- in, with, by
- וַיָּנַח
- to rest
- בַּיּוֹם
- day
- הַשְּׁבִיעִי
- seventh
- עַל
- above
- כֵּן
- so
- בֵּרַךְ
- to bless
- יְהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- יוֹם
- day
- הַשַּׁבָּת
- Sabbath
- וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ
- to be set apart
כַּבֵּד אֶת־ אָבִיךָ וְאֶת־ אִמֶּךָ לְמַעַן יַאֲרִכוּן יָמֶיךָ עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר־ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ׃
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
Word by word
- כַּבֵּד
- to be heavy
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- אָבִיךָ
- father
- וְאֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- אִמֶּךָ
- mother
- לְמַעַן
- for the sake of
- יַאֲרִכוּן
- to be long
- יָמֶיךָ
- day
- עַל
- above
- הָאֲדָמָה
- ground
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- יְהוָה
- Jehovah
- אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- God, gods
- נֹתֵן
- to give
- לָךְ
- to, for
לֹא תִּרְצָח׃
“You shall not murder.
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תִּרְצָח
- to murder
לֹא תִּנְאָף׃
“You shall not commit adultery.
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תִּנְאָף
- to commit adultery
לֹא תִּגְנֹב׃
“You shall not steal.
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תִּגְנֹב
- to steal
לֹא־ תַעֲנֶה בְרֵעֲךָ עֵד שָׁקֶר׃
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תַעֲנֶה
- to answer
- בְרֵעֲךָ
- friend
- עֵד
- witness
- שָׁקֶר
- deception
לֹא תַחְמֹד בֵּית רֵעֶךָ לֹא־ תַחְמֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ וְעַבְדּוֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ וְשׁוֹרוֹ וַחֲמֹרוֹ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לְרֵעֶךָ׃
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Word by word
- לֹא
- not
- תַחְמֹד
- to desire
- בֵּית
- house
- רֵעֶךָ
- friend
- לֹא
- not
- תַחְמֹד
- to desire
- אֵשֶׁת
- woman
- רֵעֶךָ
- friend
- וְעַבְדּוֹ
- slave
- וַאֲמָתוֹ
- maid
- וְשׁוֹרוֹ
- a head of cattle
- וַחֲמֹרוֹ
- (he)-ass
- וְכֹל
- all, every
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- לְרֵעֶךָ
- friend
וְכָל־ הָעָם רֹאִים אֶת־ הַקּוֹלֹת וְאֶת־ הַלַּפִּידִם וְאֵת קוֹל הַשֹּׁפָר וְאֶת־ הָהָר עָשֵׁן וַיַּרְא הָעָם וַיָּנֻעוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ מֵרָחֹק׃
All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance.
Word by word
- וְכָל
- all, every
- הָעָם
- people
- רֹאִים
- to see
- אֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- הַקּוֹלֹת
- voice, sound
- וְאֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- הַלַּפִּידִם
- torch
- וְאֵת
- (marks the direct object)
- קוֹל
- voice, sound
- הַשֹּׁפָר
- horn
- וְאֶת
- (marks the direct object)
- הָהָר
- mountain
- עָשֵׁן
- smoking
- וַיַּרְא
- to see
- הָעָם
- people
- וַיָּנֻעוּ
- to quiver
- וַיַּעַמְדוּ
- to stand
- מֵרָחֹק
- distant
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁה דַּבֵּר־ אַתָּה עִמָּנוּ וְנִשְׁמָעָה וְאַל־ יְדַבֵּר עִמָּנוּ אֱלֹהִים פֶּן־ נָמוּת׃
They said to Moses, “Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don’t let God speak with us, lest we die.”
Word by word
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ
- to say
- אֶל
- to, toward
- מֹשֶׁה
- Moses
- דַּבֵּר
- to speak
- אַתָּה
- you (masc. sg.)
- עִמָּנוּ
- with
- וְנִשְׁמָעָה
- to hear
- וְאַל
- not
- יְדַבֵּר
- to speak
- עִמָּנוּ
- with
- אֱלֹהִים
- God, gods
- פֶּן
- lest
- נָמוּת
- to die
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־ הָעָם אַל־ תִּירָאוּ כִּי לְבַעֲבוּר נַסּוֹת אֶתְכֶם בָּא הָאֱלֹהִים וּבַעֲבוּר תִּהְיֶה יִרְאָתוֹ עַל־ פְּנֵיכֶם לְבִלְתִּי תֶחֱטָאוּ׃
Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won’t sin.”
Word by word
- וַיֹּאמֶר
- to say
- מֹשֶׁה
- Moses
- אֶל
- to, toward
- הָעָם
- people
- אַל
- not
- תִּירָאוּ
- to fear
- כִּי
- that, because, when
- לְבַעֲבוּר
- for the sake of
- נַסּוֹת
- to test
- אֶתְכֶם
- (marks the direct object)
- בָּא
- to come, go in
- הָאֱלֹהִים
- God, gods
- וּבַעֲבוּר
- for the sake of
- תִּהְיֶה
- to be, become
- יִרְאָתוֹ
- fear
- עַל
- above
- פְּנֵיכֶם
- face
- לְבִלְתִּי
- failure
- תֶחֱטָאוּ
- to sin
וַיַּעֲמֹד הָעָם מֵרָחֹק וּמֹשֶׁה נִגַּשׁ אֶל־ הָעֲרָפֶל אֲשֶׁר־ שָׁם הָאֱלֹהִים׃
The people stayed at a distance, and Moses came near to the thick darkness where God was.
Word by word
- וַיַּעֲמֹד
- to stand
- הָעָם
- people
- מֵרָחֹק
- distant
- וּמֹשֶׁה
- Moses
- נִגַּשׁ
- to draw near
- אֶל
- to, toward
- הָעֲרָפֶל
- cloud
- אֲשֶׁר
- who, which, that
- שָׁם
- there
- הָאֱלֹהִים
- God, gods
What to notice
- הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה means “these words”. Hebrew never calls them commandments in this passage, and in Jewish tradition they are “the ten words”. Decalogue, the Greek-based name, means the same.
- אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ means “I am Yahweh your God”. The passage opens by saying who is speaking, then gives the reason for listening: he brought them out of Egypt.
- זָכוֹר אֶת־ יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת means “remember the Sabbath day”. Sabbath comes straight from this Hebrew word, which is related to a verb for stopping.
- לֹא תִשָּׂא begins the command usually translated “you shall not take the name in vain”. The word לֹא, “not”, starts many of these lines. Learn it here, and you can pick out the prohibitions at a glance.
Read it yourself
Urling teaches the words in this text first, so that when you reach it you can read it in Biblical Hebrew. It uses short lessons, and nothing has to be memorised from a list.
Learn to read this in Biblical Hebrew
No account needed. Your first line takes about three minutes.
Sources
Westminster Leningrad Codex with Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (Exod 20:1–20:21). English: World English Bible.
Text licence: Text public domain; morphology CC BY 4.0 (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project).
Language pack licence: Text public domain; data CC BY 4.0 (credit the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project).
Text: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain). Morphology and lemmas: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project (CC BY 4.0). Glosses: OSHB Hebrew Lexicon index of Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906, public domain; index CC BY 4.0), Strong's (1890) as fallback, with AI-written corrections (marked "ai"). English: World English Bible (public domain, eBible.org).
The introduction and notes on this page were written by Claude (AI). Word glosses are AI-assisted, and so is the English unless the source above names another translator.