Skip to content

Bible Study: 6th Commandment — Do Not Murder (Exo 20:13)

Question

What does the Bible say about the sixth commandment? What does "kill" (ratsach, H7523) mean — and how does it differ from harag (H2026), muth (H4191), and nakah (H5221)? Trace ratsach through Numbers 35 (cities of refuge — used for both intentional and accidental killing). How does Genesis 9:6 ("whoso sheddeth man's blood...for in the image of God made he man") provide the pre-Sinai, universal foundation? How does Jesus deepen this to anger and contempt (Mat 5:21-22)? What does "whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer" (1 John 3:15) reveal about the commandment's scope? Trace through Paul (Rom 13:9), and Revelation (21:8; 22:15). Examine: Exo 20:13, Gen 4:3-15, Gen 9:6, Num 35, Mat 5:21-22, Mat 19:18, Rom 13:9, 1 John 3:15, Rev 21:8; 22:15.

Discovered Scope

Topics Found (from naves_semantic.py)

Topic Score Key Verse References
HOMICIDE 0.53-0.65 (via MURDER/KILLING redirects) GEN 4:8-15; 9:5,6; 49:7; EXO 20:13; 21:12-14,28-32; NUM 35:11-32; DEU 4:41-43; 5:17; 17:6; 19:2-13; 21:1-9; 22:8,26; 27:24,25; JOS 20:1-9; PSA 5:6; 51:14; PRO 1:11-16; 6:16-17; ISA 26:21; JER 2:34; EZK 22:9; MAT 5:21,22; 15:19; 19:18; MRK 7:21; 10:19; LUK 18:20; ROM 13:9; GAL 5:19-21; 1TI 1:9; JAS 2:11; 1PE 4:15; 1JN 3:12,15; REV 9:21; 21:8; 22:15
HATRED 0.69 LEV 19:17; PSA 25:19; 35:19; PRO 10:12,18; 15:17; 26:24-26; MAT 5:43,44; 6:15; JHN 15:18-25; GAL 5:19,20; EPH 4:31; COL 3:8; 1JN 2:9,11; 3:10,13-15; 4:20
ANGER 0.68 GEN 4:6; 49:7; PRO 14:17,29; 15:1,18; 22:24,25; 29:22; ECC 7:9; MAT 5:22; EPH 4:26,31; COL 3:8; JAS 1:19,20
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT 0.55 (via PUNISHMENT redirect)
ASSASSINATION 0.49 DEU 27:24; JDG 3:15-22; 2SA 3:27; 4:5-7; 13:28,29; 20:9,10
MASSACRE 0.47 DEU 20:13,16
REFUGE (Cities of) 0.58 EXO 21:13,14; NUM 35:11-32; DEU 4:41-43; 19:2-13; JOS 20:1-9
BLOOD 0.35 GEN 9:4; LEV 17:11,14; 19:16; DEU 12:23; MAT 27:4,24; LEV 20:9; 2SA 1:16; EZK 18:13
MALICE 0.47 GEN 3:15; LEV 19:14,17,18; MAT 5:38-41; JHN 8:44; ROM 1:29-32; 1JN 2:9,11; 3:10,13-15; 4:20
RETALIATION 0.48 EXO 21:23-25; LEV 19:18; 24:17-22; DEU 19:19-21; MAT 5:38-44; ROM 12:17,19; 1PE 3:9
STRIFE 0.49 PRO 6:12-19; 10:12; 15:18; 17:14,19; GAL 5:19,20
COMMANDMENTS (Ten) 0.43-0.44 EXO 13:8-10; 20:3-17; DEU 4:5,9,10; 5:6-21; MAT 5:16,22; ROM 13:9; JAS 2:11

Verse References (from Nave's entries)

Core Commandment Text: - EXO 20:13; DEU 5:17

Pre-Sinai Foundation (Genesis): - GEN 4:3-15 (Cain and Abel — first murder, punishment, blood crying from ground) - GEN 4:23,24 (Lamech's boast of killing) - GEN 9:5,6 (post-Flood universal law: blood for blood, image of God basis) - GEN 49:7 (Simeon/Levi cursed for violent anger)

Mosaic Legislation — Intentional Murder: - EXO 21:12,14 (he that smiteth a man — death penalty) - EXO 21:29-32 (negligent ox owner — culpable) - LEV 24:17 (he that killeth any man — death) - NUM 35:16-22,30,31 (murderer definitions, no ransom) - DEU 17:6 (two witnesses required) - DEU 19:11-13 (premeditated murder) - DEU 21:1-9 (unsolved murder — communal guilt) - DEU 22:8 (safety railing — negligent homicide prevention) - DEU 27:24,25 (cursed: secret killer, bribe to slay innocent)

Mosaic Legislation — Accidental Killing (Manslaughter): - EXO 21:13 (God delivers him into hand — cities of refuge) - NUM 35:11-15,22-28,32 (cities of refuge regulations) - DEU 4:41-43 (Moses sets apart three cities) - DEU 19:2-10 (cities of refuge — accidental slayer) - JOS 20:1-9 (cities of refuge implementation)

Numbers 35 (comprehensive ratsach chapter): - NUM 35:6,11-32 (entire cities of refuge legislation; ratsach used for both intentional and unintentional killing)

Prophetic/Wisdom Expansion (OT): - PSA 5:6 (God abhors the bloody/deceitful man) - PSA 9:12 (God remembers blood, forgets not cry) - PSA 10:2 (wicked persecute the poor) - PSA 51:1-17 (David's repentance for murder of Uriah) - PSA 94:6 (they slay the widow, murder the fatherless) - PRO 1:11-16 (enticement to murder, feet swift to shed blood) - PRO 6:16-17 (six things God hates: hands that shed innocent blood) - PRO 28:17 (man that doeth violence to blood) - ISA 1:21 (faithful city — murderers) - ISA 26:21 (earth shall disclose her blood) - ISA 59:3,7 (hands defiled with blood, feet run to evil) - JER 2:34 (innocent blood of the poor) - JER 7:9,10 (will ye steal, murder... and come before me?) - EZK 22:9 (men that carry tales to shed blood) - EZK 35:6 (blood shall pursue thee) - HOS 4:1-3 (swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery — land mourns) - HAB 2:10,12 (woe — house by blood, city by iniquity)

Jesus's Teaching (NT): - MAT 5:21,22 (ye have heard... but I say — anger = judgment, raca = council, fool = hell fire) - MAT 15:19 (from the heart proceed murders) - MAT 19:18 (Jesus quotes 6th commandment to rich young ruler) - MRK 7:21 (from within proceed murders) - MRK 10:19 (Do not kill) - LUK 18:20 (Do not kill)

Apostolic Teaching (NT): - ROM 13:9 (thou shalt not kill — summarized in love) - GAL 5:19-21 (works of the flesh: murders) - 1TI 1:9 (law for murderers) - JAS 2:11 (do not kill — law's unity) - JAS 4:2 (ye kill, and desire to have) - 1PE 4:15 (let none of you suffer as a murderer) - 1JN 3:12 (Cain, who was of that wicked one, slew his brother) - 1JN 3:15 (whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer) - 1JN 4:20 (he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen) - REV 9:21 (neither repented they of their murders) - REV 21:8 (murderers — second death) - REV 22:15 (without are murderers)

Strong's Numbers Found (from semantic_strongs.py)

Hebrew — Key "Kill" Vocabulary: | Strong's | Word | Definition | BLB Count | Relevance | |----------|------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | H7523 | ratsach (רָצַח) | to dash in pieces, kill (a human being), especially to murder | 47 | THE word in Exo 20:13; used 20+ times in Num 35 for both intentional and unintentional killing | | H2026 | harag (הָרַג) | to smite with deadly intent; destroy, kill, murder, slay | 167 | General killing word; used for Cain (Gen 4:8), judicial execution, war | | H4191 | muth (מוּת) | to die; causatively, to kill; put to death | 835 | Broadest term: natural death, death penalty, any dying | | H5221 | nakah (נָכָה) | to strike; kill, smite, slay, wound | 500 | Physical striking/smiting; combat killing; used in Num 35 alongside ratsach | | H7524 | retsach (רֶצַח) | a crushing; murder-cry; slaughter | 2 | Noun form of ratsach | | H1818 | dam (דָּם) | blood (as that which when shed causes death) | 360+ | Central to Gen 9:6, blood-guilt theology | | H2555 | chamas (חָמָס) | violence; wrong; unjust gain | 60+ | Violence concept underlying murder prohibition |

Hebrew — Anger/Hatred Vocabulary: | Strong's | Word | Definition | Relevance | |----------|------|-----------|-----------| | H8135 | sinah (שִׂנְאָה) | hate, hatred | Heart-level sin behind murder | | H7852 | satam (שָׂטַם) | to lurk for, persecute, hate | Inner disposition |

Greek — NT Kill/Murder Vocabulary: | Strong's | Word | Definition | BLB Count | Relevance | |----------|------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | G5407 | phoneuo (φονεύω) | to be a murderer; kill, do murder, slay | 12 | LXX/NT translation of ratsach; used in Mat 5:21, 19:18; Rom 13:9; Jas 2:11 | | G5408 | phonos (φόνος) | murder; slain | 10 | Noun: murder; Mat 15:19; Mrk 7:21; Rom 1:29; Gal 5:21; Rev 9:21 | | G5406 | phoneus (φονεύς) | a murderer (criminal/intentional killing) | 7 | Mat 22:7; Act 3:14; 7:52; 28:4; 1Pe 4:15; Rev 21:8; 22:15 | | G409 | androphonos (ἀνδροφόνος) | a murderer; manslayer | 1 | 1Ti 1:9 | | G443 | anthropoktonos (ἀνθρωποκτόνος) | a manslayer, murderer | 3 | Jhn 8:44 (devil was murderer from beginning); 1Jn 3:15 (hater is murderer) |

Greek — Anger/Wrath Vocabulary: | Strong's | Word | Definition | Relevance | |----------|------|-----------|-----------| | G3709 | orge (ὀργή) | desire; anger, wrath | Jesus' teaching on anger in Mat 5:22 context | | G2190 | echthros (ἐχθρός) | hateful; enemy | Hatred/enmity concept |

Study Question Score Relevance
cmd-01-decalogue-origin-and-character The Ten Commandments as a whole — origin, context, character Series Establishes Decalogue framework: God-spoken, stone-written, eternal, love-summarized
cmd-06-fifth-commandment-honor-parents Honor father and mother (5th commandment) Series Previous commandment in sequence; establishes pattern for NT treatment (Jesus, Paul, James)
law-12-matthew-5-17-20 Matthew 5:17-20 — "not to destroy but to fulfil" 0.338 Directly analyzes Jesus' approach to deepening commandments in the Sermon on the Mount; antitheses deepen to heart-level
greatest-commandment-shema Greatest commandment and the Shema 0.360 Love-God/love-neighbor summary; Decalogue as love expressed
law-31-comprehensive-synthesis God's law comprehensive synthesis 0.557 Comprehensive law series; affirms Decalogue permanence
law-14-jesus-law-teachings What Jesus taught about the law 0.551 Jesus' direct treatment of commandments including "do not kill"

Key findings from related studies: - cmd-01: The Decalogue is God-spoken (Exo 20:1), God-written (Exo 31:18), eternal (Psa 111:7-8; 119:89), and summarized in love (Mat 22:37-40; Rom 13:8-10). James calls it "the royal law" and "the perfect law of liberty" (Jas 1:25; 2:8-12). Paul quotes "Thou shalt not kill" as part of the Decalogue love-summary in Rom 13:9. - cmd-06: Established the pattern of tracing a commandment through OT legislation, wisdom literature, Jesus' direct teaching, and apostolic application. The 5th commandment was deepened from external obedience to heart-level attitude. - law-12: Jesus' six antitheses in Mat 5:21-48 demonstrate pleroo (filling full the law's meaning). The first antithesis (Mat 5:21-22) is specifically about murder, deepening "thou shalt not kill" to include anger and contempt. This is magnification (Isa 42:21), not replacement.

Focus Areas

(Derived from tool discoveries)

  1. Hebrew Word Study — ratsach (H7523) vs. harag, muth, nakah: The semantic range of ratsach needs careful analysis. Nave's HOMICIDE entry distinguishes "accidental" and "felonious" categories, and Num 35 uses ratsach for both. This challenges any simple "murder only" translation. Compare all four Hebrew kill-words by their usage patterns.

  2. Genesis 9:6 — Pre-Sinai, Universal Foundation: Blood topic (Nave's) shows GEN 9:4-6 as foundational for the "blood is the life" concept. The image-of-God basis for the prohibition predates Sinai and applies universally. Trace connection to Cain narrative (Gen 4:3-15).

  3. Numbers 35 — Cities of Refuge and ratsach's Full Range: Refuge topic (Nave's) collects EXO 21:13-14; NUM 35:11-32; DEU 4:41-43; 19:2-13; JOS 20:1-9. Ratsach appears in Num 35 for both the intentional murderer (35:16-21) and the unintentional slayer (35:11,22-28). Analyze what this means for the word's semantic range.

  4. Jesus' Deepening — Mat 5:21-22: The first antithesis in the Sermon on the Mount. Law-12 study confirms this is magnification (pleroo), not replacement. Jesus traces murder back to anger (orge) and contempt (raca, "thou fool"). Three escalating penalties: judgment, council, hell fire.

  5. 1 John 3:15 — Hatred as Murder: Uses anthropoktonos (G443, same word as Jhn 8:44 for the devil). John traces murder to its heart-root: hatred of a brother. This parallels Jesus' teaching in Mat 5:21-22 and connects to the Cain narrative (1Jn 3:12).

  6. NT Catalogues — Murderers Excluded: Rev 21:8 and 22:15 both list phoneus (murderers) among those excluded from eternal life. Gal 5:19-21 lists phonos among works of the flesh. 1Ti 1:9 lists androphonos. Trace the consistent NT treatment.

  7. Connection to Other Commandments: Hos 4:1-3 lists killing alongside stealing, lying, and adultery — showing commandment inter-relationship. Jas 2:11 unites "do not commit adultery" and "do not kill" under law-unity.

Research Instructions

You are the Research Agent. Execute this study by:

  1. Read the SKILL.md at C:/Users/Michael/.claude/skills/bible-study2/SKILL.md for full tool documentation and principles
  2. Read your agent instructions at C:/Users/Michael/.claude/skills/bible-study2/agents/research-agent.md
  3. Read the series methodology at D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-series-methodology.md
  4. Follow the answer-question workflow from the skill
  5. Write research files to this folder:
  6. 01-topics.md - Nave's topics and full entries
  7. 02-verses.md - All verse texts retrieved with context
  8. 04-word-studies.md - Strong's research (word studies are critical for this study)
  9. raw-data/ - Raw tool output organized by category
  10. Do NOT write 03-analysis.md or CONCLUSION.md -- those are for the analysis agent

Specific Research Tasks

Verse Retrieval (kjv.txt): Retrieve ALL verse text for these passages (with surrounding context where helpful): - Exo 20:13; Deu 5:17 - Gen 4:3-15 (full Cain narrative) - Gen 9:5-6 - Gen 49:5-7 - Exo 21:12-14,28-32 - Lev 24:17 - Num 35:6,11-32 (full cities of refuge legislation) - Deu 4:41-43; 17:6; 19:2-13; 21:1-9; 22:8,26; 27:24-25 - Jos 20:1-9 - Psa 5:6; 9:12; 51:14; 94:6 - Pro 1:11-16; 6:16-17; 28:17 - Isa 1:21; 26:21; 59:3,7 - Jer 2:34; 7:9-10 - Ezk 22:9; 35:6 - Hos 4:1-3 - Hab 2:10,12 - Mat 5:21-26 (full pericope) - Mat 15:19; 19:18 - Mrk 7:21; 10:19 - Luk 18:20 - Jhn 8:44 - Rom 1:29; 13:9 - Gal 5:19-21 - 1Ti 1:9 - Jas 2:11; 4:2; 5:6 - 1Pe 4:15 - 1Jn 3:11-15 (full pericope) - 1Jn 4:20 - Rev 9:21; 21:8; 22:15

Hebrew Parser (tools/hebrew/): - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Exo 20:13" — Parse the commandment itself - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Gen 9:6" — Parse the image-of-God blood-guilt statement - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:16" — Intentional murder with ratsach - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:17" — Intentional murder continued - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:18" — Intentional murder continued - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:19" — Avenger of blood - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:20" — Intentional murder - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:21" — Intentional murder - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:22" — Accidental killing - python hebrew_parser.py --verse "Num 35:11" — Cities of refuge for ratsach (unintentional)

Greek Parser (tools/greek/): - python greek_parser.py --verse "MAT 5:21" — "Thou shalt not kill" quotation - python greek_parser.py --verse "MAT 5:22" — Anger, raca, fool - python greek_parser.py --verse "1JN 3:15" — "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer" - python greek_parser.py --verse "ROM 13:9" — Paul's Decalogue citation - python greek_parser.py --verse "REV 21:8" — Murderers in final judgment

Cross-Testament Parallels (tools/parallels/): Run BOTH --hybrid-ot AND --hybrid-nt for each: - EXO 20:13 (the commandment itself) - GEN 9:6 (image-of-God blood-guilt) - MAT 5:21 (Jesus' quotation of the commandment) - 1JN 3:15 (hatred as murder)

Concept Context (tools/context/): - python concept_context.py "EXO 20:13" — Full concept context for the commandment

Strong's Lookups (tools/search/): Complete lookups for ALL listed Strong's numbers: - python search_strongs.py --lookup H7523 (ratsach — all translations) - python search_strongs.py --lookup H2026 (harag — all translations) - python search_strongs.py --lookup H4191 (muth — all translations) - python search_strongs.py --lookup H5221 (nakah — all translations) - python search_strongs.py --lookup H1818 (dam — blood) - python search_strongs.py --lookup H2555 (chamas — violence) - python search_strongs.py --lookup G5407 (phoneuo — kill/murder) - python search_strongs.py --lookup G5408 (phonos — murder noun) - python search_strongs.py --lookup G5406 (phoneus — murderer) - python search_strongs.py --lookup G443 (anthropoktonos — man-killer) - python search_strongs.py --lookup G409 (androphonos — manslayer) - python search_strongs.py --verses H7523 (all verses where ratsach appears) - python search_strongs.py --lxx-map H7523 (how LXX translates ratsach)

Database Queries: 

python D:/bible/evidence_db.py --db D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-evidence.db search "thou shalt not kill murder"
python D:/bible/evidence_db.py --db D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-evidence.db find E --ref "Exo 20:13"
python D:/bible/study_db.py --db D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-study.db search "murder kill sixth commandment" --top 5
python D:/bible/study_db.py --db D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-study.db find-passage "Exo 20:13"
python D:/bible/study_db.py --db D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-study.db find-word "ratsach"
python D:/bible/study_db.py --db D:/bible/bible-studies/law-study.db search "sixth commandment murder kill" --top 5
python D:/bible/evidence_db.py --db D:/bible/bible-studies/law-evidence.db search "thou shalt not kill"

Save raw data to raw-data/ subfolder: - raw-data/naves-topics.md — Full Nave's entries - raw-data/hebrew-parsing.md — Hebrew parser output - raw-data/greek-parsing.md — Greek parser output - raw-data/parallels.md — Cross-testament parallel results - raw-data/strongs-lookups.md — Full Strong's lookup data - raw-data/concept-context.md — Concept context results - raw-data/db-queries.md — Database query results

Series Context

Study 7 of 13 in the cmd (Ten Commandments Deep Dive) series.

Previous studies completed: - cmd-01: The Decalogue — Origin, Context, and Character - cmd-02: 1st Commandment — No Other Gods - cmd-03: 2nd Commandment — No Graven Images - cmd-04: 3rd Commandment — God's Name in Vain - cmd-05: 4th Commandment — The Sabbath - cmd-06: 5th Commandment — Honor Father and Mother

Evidence DB: D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-evidence.db (423 items) Study DB: D:/bible/bible-studies/cmd-study.db

Workflow

answer-question

Scoped: 2026-02-27 Folder: bible-studies/cmd-07-sixth-commandment-do-not-murder/