Exodus 20:12 kjv

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Exodus 20:12 nkjv

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12 niv

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12 esv

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12 nlt

"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Exodus 20 verses

Exodus 20 12 Meaning

Exodus 20:12 commands a child to revere and provide for their father and mother. This instruction is fundamental to human relationships, bridging obedience to God with social responsibility. It establishes parental authority as ordained by God, setting the groundwork for an orderly society and individual well-being. The verse includes a divine promise that fulfilling this command leads to longevity and prosperity in the land God grants.

Exodus 20 12 Context

Exodus 20:12 is the fifth of the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue), given by God to Israel at Mount Sinai after their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. This set of divine laws formed the foundation of the Mosaic Covenant, establishing Israel as God's chosen people. The first four commandments deal with Israel's relationship directly with God, emphasizing exclusive worship, proper reverence for His name, and observance of the Sabbath. The fifth commandment acts as a transition, bridging the commands concerning God with those concerning human relationships (the subsequent five commandments on murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and covetousness).

Historically, the command ensured social stability within the newly formed nation of Israel, where elders played crucial roles in transmitting heritage, laws, and faith. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, familial honor was important, but this commandment distinguishes itself by placing parental honor directly under divine decree and linking it with the promise of divine blessing specific to the land God was giving them. It subtly stands in contrast to any practices that would undermine familial authority or the sanctity of life from its earliest stages, such as child sacrifice, by emphasizing the value and order within the family unit.

Exodus 20 12 Word analysis

• Honor (כַּבֵּד, kabbēd): The root means "to be heavy" or "weighty." It signifies giving due weight, respect, and significance. It encompasses more than mere obedience; it includes reverence, provision, care (especially in old age), and submission to rightful authority. It implies a recognition of the inherent dignity and authority parents hold, as appointed by God.
• Your father and your mother: This explicitly names both parents, emphasizing mutual responsibility and equality in the honor due to them. It underscores the foundational unit of the family, critical for societal stability.
• So that you may live long (לְמַעַן יַאֲרִכוּן יָמֶיךָ, lemaʿan yaʾarikhun yameikha): This phrase indicates the consequence and divine blessing. It is not an absolute guarantee for every individual in every circumstance but represents a general principle of divine favor and well-being for a nation or individual committed to this command. It suggests a life characterized by stability, flourishing, and security.
• In the land (עַל הָאֲדָמָה, ʿal haʾadamah): While initially referring specifically to the Promised Land of Canaan that Yahweh was giving to Israel, this phrase has broader spiritual implications. It represents a promise of stability, security, and sustained blessing. For the ancient Israelites, this meant continued tenure and prosperity within the territory God had promised their ancestors.
• The Lord your God (יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, YHWH Eloheykha): Emphasizes the divine source and authority of the commandment. It reinforces that the command is not merely a human convention but a decree from the sovereign God who is in covenant relationship with His people.
• Is giving you (נֹתֵן לָךְ, nothen lach): Highlights God's generous and covenantal act of bestowing the land as an inheritance. Obedience to this command is a mark of worthiness for retaining this divine gift.

Words-group analysis:

• "Honor your father and your mother": This core instruction establishes the parental role as one of divine delegated authority. It requires children to respect, obey (while under their authority), and later, care for and provide for their parents. It is the first commandment with a promise.
• "So that you may live long in the land": This phrase details the blessing contingent upon obedience. For Israel, it meant national and individual longevity in their promised inheritance, emphasizing stability and unbroken tenure. For New Testament believers, it broadens to spiritual well-being, a flourishing life, and an inheritance in Christ, whether physical or spiritual.
• "The Lord your God is giving you": This clarifies that both the command and the promised land originate from Yahweh's gracious covenant relationship with Israel. It connects the commandment directly to the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for His people.

Exodus 20 12 Bonus section

The command to "honor your father and your mother" is presented as a categorical imperative, signifying its foundational importance for societal structure and individual well-being. It implies that children, as members of God's covenant community, bear a lifelong duty of respect and care towards those who raised them. This precept implicitly safeguards the wisdom, experience, and heritage passed down through generations. While this commandment carries a specific promise for longevity, it should not be understood as a magical formula guaranteeing a long life regardless of other factors. Rather, it signifies that honoring parents contributes to a divinely ordered and blessed life, often resulting in stability and peace. It underscores God's valuing of family integrity and intergenerational relationships, contrasting sharply with pagan cultures that sometimes prioritized individual ambition over filial duty or abandoned the elderly.

Exodus 20 12 Commentary

The fifth commandment, "Honor your father and your mother," serves as a vital pivot within the Decalogue, linking vertical reverence for God to horizontal relationships among humans. To honor parents means recognizing their God-given authority, demonstrating respect in word and deed, providing support, especially in their old age, and listening to their counsel. This "honor" is not confined to childhood obedience but extends throughout a child's life, encompassing an attitude of esteem and gratefulness. The promised longevity "in the land" is not a mere statistical correlation but a divine covenantal blessing. For ancient Israel, it guaranteed stability and continuity in their promised inheritance; persistent disobedience, conversely, would lead to exile and ruin (Dt 27:16). For believers today, while the "land" aspect points to a specific historical inheritance for Israel, the principle translates to a life of flourishing, spiritual peace, and abundant blessing within God's broader kingdom. Disregard for this command indicates a breakdown of fundamental societal order and a disregard for God's delegated authority, impacting spiritual health.

Examples for practical usage:

• A child listening respectfully to a parent's guidance.
• Adult children regularly visiting or caring for aging parents.
• Financial support provided by children to their parents when needed.
• Acknowledging and valuing parents' wisdom and life experience.
• Speaking kindly of parents, even when disagreements arise.