What does the Bible teach about killing?

In the Old Testament, when Moses gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites he included the following commandment – “Thou shalt not kill.” (Deuteronomy 5:17 KJV)  However, if you look at the New International Version of the Bible, the commandment is phrased – “You shall not murder.”

 

This sensitive topic in the Bible seems straight-forward, since taking another person’s life seems like the simple answer.  Some people believe it wrong to kill a person for any reason, and they sometimes equate killing to murder.  Just look at all of the people who are conscientious objectors to serving in the military or opponents of the death penalty.

 

On the contrary, there is a huge difference between killing and murdering someone.  Consider the moral and ethical decisions that law enforcement officers and military personnel have to make during their line of duty?  Anybody who considers joining the military needs to understand this difference, long before they ever raise their hand and get sworn into the military.  When a service member is riding around in a military vehicle and forced to make a decision to shoot somebody in the line of duty, they need to have these moral and ethical issues sorted out ahead of time.  You can say the same thing about the tough decisions that many of our valuable police officers must face every day as they serve and protect our communities.

  

The original Hebrew word for kill/murder in the Ten Commandments is ratsach, which means to dash in pieces as killing a person…especially to murder.  In other words, the emphasis is on the needless taking of another person’s life by murdering them.  Obviously, there were many Old Testament books written about the battles and wars of the Israelites, so the notion that killing is absolutely condemned by the Bible is quickly eliminated.  Take for instance when King David slew the giant Philistine with a sling and a stone, the text used the original Hebrew word muwth which means figuratively or literally to slay or kill…not murder, like in the Ten Commandments.  (I Samuel 17:50)  Additionally, death was often a punishment for unlawful acts, such as adultery, in the Old Testament. (Deuteronomy 22:20-25)

Even in the New Testament, Apostle Paul includes murders – not killings – in his lists of sinful behaviors, regardless if you use the King James Version or New International Version of the Bible. (Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21)  Paul also recognized that the justice system of the various governments often included death as a punishment, in that he instructed believers to do the right thing by submitting themselves to the God-ordained laws of the land “…for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason.” (Romans 13:4 NIV, italics added for emphasis)  In fact Jesus Christ instructed Simon Peter to put away his sword, after he cut off an ear from one of the servants coming to arrest Jesus.  Of notice, Jesus Christ did not tell Simon Peter to get rid of his sword, since he understood its importance for defensive purposes.  (Matthew 26:50-56; John 18:10-11)

In summary, Scripture commands individuals not to murder – or maliciously kill – another person.  Killing is only permitted as a last resort, under the conditions of protecting one’s life, defending one’s nation or executing lawful justice.  As believers mature, they will understand the importance of avoiding the use of such measures, unless absolutely necessary.