Although I learned this a few months ago (in the pre-blog days), I thought it fitting considering the previous post.
The division (how we count to 10) is where the variances are most obvious. For the most part, the text is the same, though there are some critical differences. For instance, Lutherans use “murder” and Catholics use “kill” for their Commandment 5. Pretty much everyone has removed the reference to oxen and slaves in numbers 9/10, and slaves again in 4/3. And some Jews feel that the reference to steal in their 8 is really a reference to kidnapping.
Obviously the interpretation/orthodoxy surrounding the commandments varies as well, but far too much to summarize here.
This chart from Wikipedia illustrates the division part quite nicely.
| Commandment | Jewish | Anglican, Reformed, and other Christian | Orthodox | Roman Catholic, Lutheran** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I am the Lord your God | 1 | preface | 1 | 1 |
| You shall have no other gods before me | 2 | 1 | ||
| You shall not make for yourself an idol | 2 | 2 | ||
| You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Honor your father and mother | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| You shall not murder* | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| You shall not commit adultery | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| You shall not steal*** | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| You shall not covet your neighbor’s house | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife | 10 |
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