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There are two versions, generally similar but somewhat different in wording: Exodus 20:3-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The version in Deuteronomy adds the detail of Moses saying that God "wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me."

There are two versions, generally similar but somewhat different in wording: Exodus 20:3-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The version in Deuteronomy adds the detail of Moses saying that God "wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me."

The Bible itself refers to there being "''ten'' commandments" in [http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=KjvExod.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=20&division=div1| Exodus 34:28] and [http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=KjvDeut.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=5&division=div1| Deuteronomy 4:13], but it is not clear how to parcel out the fifteen or sixteen verses into ten commandments, and different religious groups have done this in different ways. For example, "You shall have no other gods before me" and "You shall not make for yourself any graven image" are sometimes considered to be two different commandments and sometimes as two parts of the same commandment.

The Bible itself refers to there being "''ten'' commandments" in Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 4:13, but it is not clear how to parcel out the fifteen or sixteen verses into ten commandments, and different religious groups have done this in different ways. For example, "You shall have no other gods before me" and "You shall not make for yourself an idol" are sometimes considered to be two different commandments and sometimes as two parts of the same commandment.

[[Protestant]]s assign the Fifth Commandment to "honor your father and mother," but in [[Catholic]] texts this is the Fourth Commandment.<ref>An atheistic website provides an interesting comparison among faiths with respect to the Ten Commandments, and many sources: http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/whichcom.htm</ref>  The Jewish tradition is to call that requirement the Fifth Commandment.

[[Protestant]]s assign the Fifth Commandment to "honor your father and mother," but in [[Catholic]] texts this is the Fourth Commandment.<ref>An atheistic website provides an interesting comparison among faiths with respect to the Ten Commandments, and many sources: http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/whichcom.htm</ref>  The Jewish tradition is to call that requirement the Fifth Commandment.

==The Ten Commandments in US law==

==The Ten Commandments in US law==

In several contriversies over the legality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government property, and especially outside courthouses, the influence of the ten commandments on US law becomes relavent as proponents of the displays argue that these commandments form part of the foundation of the US legal system.

In several controversies over the legality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government property, and especially outside courthouses, the influence of the ten commandments on US law becomes relevant as proponents of the displays argue that these commandments form part of the foundation of the US legal system.

1. This is not only unmentioned in US law, but is specifically opposed by the First Ammendment to the Constitution itsself. Any attempt to impose belief or non-belief in a particular God by legal means is strictly prohibited.

1. This is not only unmentioned in US law, but is specifically opposed by the First Amendment to the Constitution itself. Any attempt to impose the belief or non-believe in a particular God by legal means is strictly prohibited.

2. In a similar way, the first ammendment, by protecting freedom of speech, explicitly forbids any legal means of enforcing the second commandment - which is itself a restriction on speech.

2. In a similar way, the first amendment, by protecting freedom of speech, explicitly forbids any legal means of enforcing the second commandment - which is itself a restriction on speech.

3. Nothing in current state or federal law specifically prohibits the taking in vain of God's name in general, but it may be in violation of broadcast decency laws if shown on television or radio.

3. Nothing in current state or federal law specifically prohibits the taking in vain of God's name in general, but it may be in violation of broadcast decency laws if shown on television or radio.

4. Past state laws have enforced the sabbath by forbidding various activities, such as the sale of specific goods, on Sundays. These, however, are all now repealed or struck down. Closure of shops on Sundays is by convention, but not legally enforced. The biblical sabbath is in any case Saturday (the seventh day of the week), not Sunday (the first).

4. Past state laws have enforced the sabbath by forbidding various activities, such as the sale of specific goods, on Sundays. These, however, are all now repealed or struck down. Closure of shops on Sundays is by convention, but not legally enforced.

5. No law enforces this commandment. It is doubtful that it could be enforced.

5. No law enforces this commandment. It is doubtful that it could be enforced.

6. This commandment is very clearly enforced by US law. However, as this prohibition has arisen in many diverse religions and legal system, it is highly probable that it would have been included regardless of its mention in the ten commandments.

6. This commandment is very clearly enforced by US law. However, as this prohibition has arisen in many diverse religions and legal system, it is highly probable it would have been included regardless of its mention in the ten commandments.

7. Adultery is not a criminal offense, but it will influence civil divorce procedings and affect the distribution of assets.

7. Adultery is not a criminal offense, but it will influence civil divorce proceedings and affect the distribution of assets.

8. As with 6.

8. As with 6.

'''The Ten Commandments''' is also the title of a famous 1956 motion picture, produced and directed by [[Cecil B. DeMille]] and starring [[Charlton Heston]] as Moses. It tells the story of Moses essentially as told in the Book of Exodus, with a few changes.  

'''The Ten Commandments''' is also the title of a famous 1956 motion picture, produced and directed by [[Cecil B. DeMille]] and starring [[Charlton Heston]] as Moses. It tells the story of Moses essentially as told in the Book of Exodus, with a few changes.  

As publicity for the film, and in conjunction with a project of the [[Fraternal Order of Eagles]], Paramount helped finance the placement of hundreds of stone tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. These were placed at courthouse squares, at city halls and in public parks, and became a center of controversy, particularly in recent years, as to whether they violate the separation of Church and State<ref>''Ten Commandments Monoliths'', from the March 2002 issue of ''Eagle Magazine''[http://www.foe.com/tencommandments/]mar_2002_ten_commandments.html</ref> In recent years, liberal attorneys and judges have opposed the display of the Ten Commandments on public property through the judicial system.

As publicity for the film, and in conjunction with a project of the [[Fraternal Order of Eagles]], Paramount helped finance the placement of hundreds of stone tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. These were placed at courthouse squares, at city halls and in public parks, and became a center of controversy, particularly in recent years, as to whether they violate the separation of Church and State<ref>''Ten Commandments Monoliths'', from the March 2002 issue of ''Eagle Magazine''[http://www.foe.com/tencommandments/]mar_2002_ten_commandments.html</ref> In recent years, liberal attorneys and judges have opposed the display of the Ten Commandments on public property by exploiting the judicial system.

==References==

==References==