What Does the Bible Say Counts as Murder?

In Exodus 2013, the sixth commandment is, You shall not murder. We all know this one, right?

If you were to ask someone, can you name one of the Ten Commandments? This is likely the one they'll give you. Even unbelievers know,

Thou shalt not murder. So what is murder? It seems like a simple question with a simple answer.

Do not kill anyone for any reason ever. But just before God said, Do not kill, he had

Israel fight the Amalekites. After giving them the law again, he sent Israel into the promised land to kill the

Canaanites. There are occasions when death is just. If a man kills an intruder to defend life or property.

If a soldier or police officer has to put someone down. If the state executes a criminal for crimes deserving of the death penalty.

These are examples of justice according to the Bible. There is no blood guilt on those who do justice.

Therefore, not all killing is murder. So what is being forbidden by the sixth commandment? The sixth commandment absolutely forbids the taking of life, whether your own or your neighbors, unjustly.

In God's eyes, killing your neighbor is murder. Suicide is murder. Abortion is murder.

But capital punishment is not inherently murder, nor is self -defense. How do you keep the sixth commandment?

By not killing anyone, right? Well, Jesus said if you hate your brother, you've committed murder in your heart.

You keep the sixth commandment by loving one another. For love is the fulfilling of the law.