Reply to "WT: Ten Commandments Bible Background & Bible Study"

Additional Ten C Resources!

In this post:

Lesson Set Learning Objectives
Versions of the Ten Commandments for Memorizing
Helpful Graphics, Posters, and Links to Videos

1. Lesson Set Learning Objectives

To help instill an age-appropriate* working memory of the Ten Commandments.
To learn and reflect on the meaning and life application of each commandment so that they are "written on the tablets of our hearts."
To appreciate God's loving purpose in giving them and encourage obedience to them.

*Preschoolers should be able to remember keywords from several of the commandments and be able to voice "love God, love others." The older the students are the more commandments they should be able to remember and grasp the specific wording found in each. Remind students that being able to quote the commandments is not as important as being able to follow them!

2. Versions of the Ten Commandments for Memorizing

The following are traditional "condensations" of the scriptural text of the Ten Commandments for the purposes of memorizing or displaying. As noted in the Bible Background, some Christians have a slightly different numbering of the Ten Commandments (the original Hebrew does not number the commandments.) The wording is directly from the translations. Attached is a Word doc file with these versions should you need it. The attachment also has "positive versions" of the commandments stating "shall not's" as "shall do's" for the purposes of teaching. This document is also used in two of the Team's lesson plans.

Keep in mind that many "graphics" and print versions of the Ten C's available on the internet and in published resources are themselves "versions of the versions" where the author has adjusted the wording for age or teaching purposes. As mentioned below, taking the time to write your own "translation" can be a wonderful devotional exercise.

NRSV

You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself an idol
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy
Honor your father and your mother
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness
You shall not covet

NIV

You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself an image
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
Honor your father and your mother
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not give false testimony
You shall not covet

King James Version

Thou shalt have no other gods before me
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy
Honor thy father and thy mother
Thou shalt not kill
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness
Thou shalt not covet

A Writing Team Version for Kids

(Based on our Bible Background and Word Studies)

Love God more than you love anything else.
Do not make other things more important than "God things."
Respect God by praying with your whole heart and not heaping up empty words or promises.
Remember to worship and rest on the Sabbath.
Bring honor to your parents and family.
Never hurt anyone.
Always be faithful to your husband or wife and in all your sacred commitments.
Don't take anything that isn't yours.
Always tell the truth.
Don't be jealous of others or hunger for things you do not need.

*It can be a wonderful devotional exercise to try and come up with your own translation of the Ten Commandments that is true to the original, speaks in today's language or to certain issues, and illuminates your understanding of the commandments. (Jesus himself did that with the Great Commandment.) You can find many such versions online. The Writing Team's version is just one of many. In particular, it is interesting to see versions where people have tried to state the commandments "in the positive" ("thou SHALL," instead of "thou shalt not").