Table of Contents
Biblical Contradiction Explained: Killing is or is not a sin:
Killing is a sin:
“You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13
Killing is not a sin:
He said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’”
Exodus 32:27
Explanation:
According to Jewish and Christian law, killing is not necessarily a sin. There are plenty of examples within Scripture of people killing justifiably. Exodus 20:13 does not say you shall not “kill.” It says “you shall not murder.”
What distinguishes murder from “killing” is a lack of a justifiable circumstance. Scripture makes very clear that there are circumstances in which killing is justifiable; and therefore, not murder.
Why do some translations say “you shall not kill”
The reason that some translations (such as the King James Version) translate Exodus 20:13 into “thou shall not kill” is simply a matter of an inferior translation.
The Hebrew word used in Exodus 20:13 for “murder” is: רצה (Rasad), Which translates to “to murder.”
While it can be translated as “kill” the use of רצה (Rasad) generally connotes a lack of justification (i.e. murder).
The Hebrew word most commonly used for “kill” is: שׁהם (Sahat), which does not necessarily connote a lack of justification.
Most modern and reliable translations never use the word “kill” when translating Exodus 20:13. They all use the more correct word; “murder.”
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- Biblical Contradiction: Robbery is or is not a sin:
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- What is the Old Covenant?
- Catechism: Respect for Human Life – Legitimate Defense
- Catechism: Intentional Homicide
- Does Westboro Represent Christianity?
- Biblical Contradiction: There is one or three gods: