Ten Commandments (14) - Murder

Murder is a crime that should be dealt with by civic authorities. Murder is unlawful killing of another person. The law gives examples that enable the boundaries around murder to be defined.

1. Killing a person in self defence is not murder (Ex 22:2).
2. Killing a soldier during a war is not murder (Deut 20:12,13). This rule does not apply to all wars, but only where a community is being defended.
3. Intent is important. Murder occurs, if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately (Ex 21:12). A person cannot be held accountable for something that was beyond their control. An accidental death is not murder (Ex 21:12).
4. Allowing a dangerous animal or machine to wander without restraint could become murder if someone is killed (Ex 21:29).
5. Murder is an extreme form of assault, so all assault is covered by this command.