Verse: Exodus 20:13-17
Theme: The Fifth Through Tenth Commandments Establish Protective Boundaries Around Life, Marriage, Property, Truth, and Contentment
“You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
— Exodus 20:13-17, New International Version (NIV)
“You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
— Exodus 20:13-17, New Living Translation (NLT)
“You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 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.”
— Exodus 20:13-17, New King James Version (NKJV)
“Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely against your neighbor. Do not desire another man’s house, or his wife, or his male or female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything else he owns.”
— Exodus 20:13-17, Good News Translation (GNT)
“You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. You must not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
— Exodus 20:13-17, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Meaning of Exodus 20:13-17
Ever notice how toddlers instinctively understand “mine” before they learn “please” or “thank you”? These final commandments address the grown-up version of that same territorial instinct, except now the stakes involve life, death, marriage, property, reputation, and the dangerous poison of wanting what belongs to someone else.
The progression isn’t random. It moves from external actions that destroy others to internal attitudes that destroy ourselves. Murder eliminates life. Adultery violates a covenant. Theft removes property. False witness destroys reputation. But coveting? That’s the root system feeding all the other violations.
Notice the escalating intimacy. First, don’t destroy your neighbor’s existence. Then don’t violate your neighbor’s marriage. Next, don’t take your neighbor’s possessions. After that, don’t destroy your neighbor’s standing in the community. Finally, don’t even desire what your neighbor has. God works from the outside in, addressing behavior before attitude, but ultimately targeting the heart condition that generates destructive actions.
The Hebrew word for “covet” carries more weight than casual wanting or admiration. It implies scheming, plotting, and taking mental possession before physical acquisition. It’s the difference between noticing someone’s beautiful home and mentally moving in, planning how to acquire it, and resenting the current owner for having what you deserve.
The final commandment’s exhaustive list reveals how comprehensive coveting becomes once it takes root. House, spouse, servants, livestock, anything. The cancer spreads until no aspect of the neighbor’s life remains exempt from envious calculation. What starts as an innocent comparison becomes systematic resentment that poisons every relationship it touches.
Popular Words of Wisdom from Exodus 20:13-17
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Leader
“Be content with what you have; when you are content, you have more than enough.”
— Lao Tzu, Ancient Philosopher
“In war, truth is the first casualty.”
— Aeschylus, Ancient Greek Tragedian
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
— Apostle Paul, Church Planter
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
— Apostle Paul, Church Planter
“The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.”
— Sun Tzu, Military Strategist
Explaining the Context of Exodus 20:13-17
These commandments complete the second tablet, focusing on horizontal human relationships, establishing protective boundaries around fundamental aspects of community life and personal wellbeing.
The progression from murder to coveting moves from external actions to internal attitudes, revealing how God addresses both behavior and the heart conditions that generate destructive choices.
The escalating intimacy from life to marriage to property to reputation to desire demonstrates comprehensive divine concern for all aspects of human relationships and community health.
The final commandment’s detailed list exposes how envy spreads systematically through every aspect of a neighbor’s life rather than remaining confined to specific objects or circumstances.
Explaining the Key Parts of Exodus 20:13-17
“You shall not murder”
Life protection establishes the fundamental value of human existence that cannot be violated through personal violence, establishing the sanctity that governs all other relationships and social interactions.
“You shall not commit adultery”
Marriage covenant protection preserves the exclusive relationship that forms the foundation of family structure and social stability through faithful commitment between spouses.
“You shall not steal”
Property protection acknowledges legitimate ownership rights that enable economic security and personal dignity through recognition of individual labor and creative contribution to community wealth.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor”
Truth protection preserves reputation and justice systems that depend on honest communication rather than manipulation, deception, or character assassination that destroys trust.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house… wife… or anything that belongs to your neighbor”
Internal desire regulation addresses the heart condition that generates external violations, targeting the root system of envy that poisons relationships and motivates destructive actions.
Lessons to Learn from Exodus 20:13-17
1. Divine Law Progresses From External Actions to Internal Attitudes Rather Than Focusing Exclusively on Behavioral Control Without Addressing Heart Conditions That Generate Destructive Choices
God addresses both murder and the coveting that leads to murder, recognizing that lasting transformation requires internal change rather than external compliance that leaves motivation unchanged.
2. Community Health Depends on Comprehensive Protection Rather Than Selective Concern for Some Aspects of Human Relationships, While Ignoring Others That Affect Social Stability
The commandments protect life, marriage, property, truth, and contentment because each area affects the others rather than operating independently without broader community impact.
3. Coveting Destroys Both the Coveter and the Coveted Rather Than Representing Harmless Internal Desire That Affects No One Beyond Personal Emotional Experience and Private Thoughts
Envy poisons relationships systematically while motivating the external violations that the previous commandments prohibit, demonstrating how internal attitudes generate external destruction.
4. Protective Boundaries Enable Human Flourishing Rather Than Restricting Freedom Through Arbitrary Limitations That Prevent Authentic Expression and Genuine Relationship Development
Each prohibition protects something valuable rather than limiting human potential, creating space where life, marriage, property, truth, and contentment can develop without destructive interference.
Related Bible Verses
“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
— Matthew 5:22, New International Version (NIV)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
— Proverbs 4:23, English Standard Version (ESV)
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled.”
— Hebrews 13:4, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have.”
— Hebrews 13:5, World English Bible (WEB)
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
— Ephesians 4:25, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
How This Verse Points to Christ
Exodus 20:13-17 points to Christ as the one who perfectly fulfilled all protective boundaries while providing transformation that addresses both external behavior and internal heart condition.
The murder prohibition finds fulfillment in Christ’s perfect love that never harbored destructive anger while providing forgiveness for those whose hatred led to violence and character assassination.
The adultery prohibition finds completion in Christ’s faithful devotion to His bride, the church, demonstrating covenant loyalty that enables believers to experience faithful marriage relationships through His example.
The theft prohibition finds resolution in Christ’s generosity that never took what belonged to others while providing abundance that eliminates the scarcity mindset that motivates stealing and hoarding.
The false witness prohibition finds expression in Christ as the truth, who never deceived or manipulated while providing honest communication that builds rather than destroys community relationships.
The coveting prohibition finds transformation in Christ’s contentment with the Father’s will, enabling believers to find satisfaction in divine provision rather than envying what others possess.
Closing Reflection
Exodus 20:13-17 establishes comprehensive protection around life, marriage, property, truth, and contentment through boundaries that enable human flourishing rather than restricting authentic expression.
This passage teaches us that divine law addresses both external actions and internal attitudes because lasting transformation requires heart change rather than behavioral modification that leaves motivation unchanged.
The progression from murder to coveting reveals how God works from outside to inside, ultimately targeting the root system of envy and discontent that generates all other violations.
The protective nature of each commandment demonstrates divine concern for community health rather than arbitrary restriction, creating space where relationships can develop without destructive interference.
This passage ultimately points toward Christ, who perfectly fulfilled every protective boundary while providing the heart transformation that enables authentic obedience rather than external compliance.
Say This Prayer
Righteous Judge and loving Protector, You who established boundaries around life, marriage, property, truth, and contentment to enable human flourishing rather than restrict authentic expression, we confess our violations of every protective standard You have given. Our hearts harbor murder through hatred, adultery through unfaithfulness, theft through selfishness, deception through manipulation, and coveting through systematic envy.
We acknowledge that external compliance without internal transformation leaves the root system of sin intact. Transform our hearts from the inside out, replacing destructive desires with satisfaction in Your provision and purpose for our lives.
Cleanse us from the poison of coveting that systematically destroys our appreciation for what You have given while generating resentment toward those who possess what we think we deserve.
Enable us to become protectors rather than violators of life, marriage, property, truth, and contentment in our communities.
Through Jesus, our perfect example, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.