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Bible
Question: How
do you explain the command "You shall not kill" versus
Exodus 22:18 and Ex. 22:20?
Bible Answer: The
command not to kill is the sixth commandment among the Ten Commandments.
The King James Version read as follows.
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Thou
shalt not kill. (KJV)
Exodus 20:13 |
The
Hebrew word for "kill" is .
It means "to murder or slay." That is why the NASB and NIV
read,
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You
shall not murder. (NASB) Exodus 20:13 |
That
was the meaning of the King James Version (KJV) in A.D. 1611. Words
change meaning with time. So the newer versions have updated their
translations to communicate the meaning in our time. So when we read
such passages as Exodus 22:18-19,
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You
shall not allow a sorceress to live. Whoever lies with an animal
shall surely be put to death. (NASB) Exodus 22:18-19 |
we
realize that God was giving the Israelites a command to take this
action. This is not murder. This action is not the result from a passion
of the heart, but an act of obedience to God. Now if someone desires
a person to die because of some crime the person did or because -
as in this case - the person is a sorceress, that does not make God's
command wrong. It is the person's heart which is wrong. God commanded
governing authorities to administer the death penalty for certain
crimes. This was not murder, but the taking of life to carry out justice.
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Let
every person be in subjection to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist
are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has
opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will
receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause
of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have
no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise
from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good.
But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear
the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger
who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. (NASB) Rom.
13:1-4 |
Conclusion:Today,
God calls each of us to love one another and He calls us to holiness.
God is more concerned about our holiness than our lives. He is more
concerned that we believe in Jesus Christ than that we have good health
or wealth.
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YOU
SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. (NASB) 1 Peter 1:16 |
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