Did the Ten Commandments Exist Before Mount Sinai?
By Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Many Christians believe that the Ten Commandments were solely given to the Israelites when God formed a covenant with them on Mount Sinai. However, all Ten Commandments can be found in the Bible before the covenant on Mount Sinai was formed. We have some examples below (this is not an all inclusive list). These verses either display that the people violated or attempted to violate one of the commandments, was aware of its existence, or obeyed it.
No other gods before Him: Gen. 31:30-32, Gen. 35:2-4, Ex. 6:7, 10:7, 12:12
No graven images/idols (and by extension no other gods): Gen. 31:19, 31:34-35, 35:2-4
Do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain (this literally means to bear or take up His name in vain): Gen. 4:26, 13:4, Ex. 3:15 (there were those who did not call on/take up His name in vain)
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy: Genesis 2:1-3, 8:10-12, Ex. 16
Honor your mother and father: Gen. 26:34-35, 35:21-22, 49:4-5
Do not commit murder: Gen. 4:8-10, 9:5-6, 27:41, 37:19-26, Ex. 1:16, 2:14
Do not commit adultery: Gen. 12:9-20, 19:1-38, 20:1-14, 39:1-12
Do not steal: Gen. 27:15, 30:33, 31:19,30, 44:8
Do not bear false witness (said another way, do not lie): Gen. 4:9-11, 12:9-20, 20:1-5, 27:1-29, 31:7,41, 37:31-35, 39:13-20
Do not covet: Genesis 3:6, Gen. 31:19
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