Decalogues

A little bit of Bible study that might surprise you.

There are three versions of the Ten Commandments in the Hebrew Bible. Literally, the 'commandments' is better translated as 'words'. This would be Ten Words aka Decalogue.

Three Decalogues are found in Exodus 20, 34, and Deuteronomy 5.

Exodus 20 and Deut. 5 are very similar with slight variations in motivation for observing the Sabbath, benefits of honoring parents, and a distinction between coveting a man's wife vs. rest of household property. (Remember women were considered property in the Bible...)

Exodus 34 is odd because v.1 says God will write the words that were on the previously broken tablets on this new set of tablets. When Moses is given the covenant again, it looks very different. It is all about worship and ritual in Israel (note it is immediately after Moses intercedes for Israel worshiping the golden calf). V. 27 names these statements as the Ten Words, or Commandments.

The only similarities between Exodus 34 and the other two is found in v. 14, 17, and 21. (Naming God as a jealous God, Israel is not to make images of worship, remembering the Sabbath). It seems the author of Exodus is weaving the different traditions that existed into the plot explaining Israel identity and the significance of the Sinai Covenant.