Deuteronomy 5:18"Neither shall you commit adultery.
The setting
Plains of Moab, Jordan. ~1406 BC. Moses's final speech to Israel before his death...
The emotion here: passionate urgency as his final warning to the nation
The original word
na'aph (נָאַף) — to commit adultery, breaking covenant faithfulness
Why it matters
In ancient Near East, adultery was punishable by death for both parties
Read with care
What most readers miss in Deuteronomy 5:18
This comes after 40 years of wandering due to unfaithfulness — physical and spiritual parallels
Common misconceptionMany think this only applies to married people, but it protects ALL marriage relationships — including the marriages of others you might be tempted to damage.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Deuteronomy 5:18
Bible Genome reading
Deuteronomy 5:18 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Deuteronomy 5:18 comes from the book of Deuteronomy, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sexual purity, faithfulness, covenant. Notable phrases: Neither shall you commit adultery. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Deuteronomy 5:18 mean to you, today?
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