Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
What does Exodus 20:12 mean?
The laws of the SECOND table, that is, the last six of the ten commandments, state our duty to ourselves and to one another, and explain the great commandment, you shalt love your neighbour as thyself, Lu 10:27.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Exodus 20:12-13 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Exodus 20:12
Honour thy father and thy mother - According to our usage, the fifth commandment is placed as the first in the second table; and this is necessarily involved in the common division of the commandments into our duty toward God and our duty toward men. But the more ancient, and probably the better, division allots five commandments to each table (compare Romans 13:9 ), proceeding on the distinction that the First table relates to the duties which arise from our filial relations, the second to those which arise from our fraternal relations. The connection between the first four commandments and the fifth exists in the truth that all faith in God centers in the filial feeling.
Key words
- Honour
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Honour thy father and thy mother, &c.
- father
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Honour thy father and thy mother, &c.
- mother
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Honour thy father and thy mother, &c.
Context in Exodus 20
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Exodus 20 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as plagues, Passover, and the crossing of the sea. Exodus tells the story of Israel’s rescue from Pharaoh, the revelation of the divine name, the covenant at Sinai, and the tabernacle where God chooses to dwell among his people. Read this chapter with the wider themes of redemption, Passover, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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