The Ten Commandments are actually ten words of promise. The Hebrew word is “dabar” and it can be translated word, command, or promise.

Exodus 20:1-17

Listen to a sermon about this

I made this video for my confirmation students many years ago. Please note, Exodus 20:1-17 does not a) call these words commandments, or b) number them. Therefore, there are at least three numbering systems that have evolved over the years. The video below is based on the system that Martin Luther used. I grew up with a different one in my Baptist upbringing, and the Jewish tradition (the actual originators of the text) have a different one (see below).