What Are the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments are a set of moral and religious instructions found in the Old Testament, traditionally described as given to Moses.
Where they appear
They're recorded in two books of the Old Testament, Exodus and Deuteronomy, with largely the same content presented in both.
Their general themes
The commandments address both a person's relationship with God (worship, honoring God's name) and relationships with other people (honesty, respect for life and property).
Their lasting cultural influence
Beyond religious practice, the Ten Commandments have influenced legal and ethical traditions well beyond specifically religious contexts, referenced across centuries of Western law and culture.
Is there one universally agreed-upon numbering of the Ten Commandments?
Different traditions divide and number the same underlying text slightly differently, though the overall content is consistent across them.
