Thou shalt not kill

The Torah portrays murder as a capital crime and describes a number of details in the moral understanding and legal implementation of consequences.

[9][10] The Priestly Code allowed the victim's next of kin (avenger of blood) to exact retribution on the suspect; but the accused could seek sanctuary in a city of refuge.

Eliezer Segal observes that the Septuagint uses the term harag, and that Augustine of Hippo recognized that this did not extend to wars or capital punishment.

[13] The Torah and Hebrew Bible made clear distinctions between the shedding of innocent blood versus killing as the due consequence of a crime.

For example, the Exodus narrative describes the people as having turned to idolatry with the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain receiving the law from God.

Achan is put to death by Joshua because he caused defeat of Israel's army by taking some of the plunder and hiding it in his tent.

But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord's peace forever.The biblical refrain for those justly executed as due punishment for crimes is that "their blood will be on their own heads.

"[28] This expresses the idea that those guilty of certain actions have brought the shedding of blood upon themselves, and those carrying out due punishment do not bear bloodguilt.

The ancient Hebrew texts make a distinction between the moral and legal prohibition of shedding of innocent blood and killing in battle.

[29] Rabbi Marc Gellman explains the distinction between "harag" (killing) and "ratzah" (murder) and notes the different moral connotations.

[34] The 613 Mitzvot extend the notion of lawful killing to the nations that inhabited the Promised Land, commanding to exterminate them completely.

Deuteronomy 20:10–18 establishes rules on killing civilians in warfare: As described in the Torah, the ancient understanding of the prohibition of murder made an exception for legitimate self-defense.

Don't leave him in a state of confusion and go on your way (Deuteronomy 22:4) On the subject of manslaughter ("thou shalt not kill"), the rabbinic authority Nachmanides was one of the few who enumerated a negative commandment prohibiting this lesser offense.

The Talmud cites the prohibition of shedding innocent blood in Genesis 9:6 as the reason why the death penalty should be carried out against non-Jews as well as Jews, and while faithful Jews are required to obey 613 Mitzvot, gentiles are only obliged to obey the seven Noahide laws, which include the prohibition of murder and establishment of a justice system to administer law honestly.

[38] Rabbi Dr. Azriel Rosenfeld offers a representative modern summary of Jewish teaching regarding the command not to murder.

For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.The New Testament acknowledges the just and proper role of civil government in maintaining justice[47] and punishing evildoers, even to the point of "bearing the sword.

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” This commandment demands respect for human life and is more accurately translated as "thou shalt not murder."

[58][59][60][61] The Church is actively involved in the public debates over abortion, capital punishment and euthanasia, and encourages believers to support legislation and politicians it describes as pro-life.

[63] According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end.

For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.

In August 2018 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with the approval of Pope Francis changed paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and declared that the death penalty is always regarded as inadmissible.

[72] In February 2016 Pope Francis called for the suspension of the death penalty for the duration of the Holy Year "because modern means existed to 'efficiently repress crime without definitively denying the person who committed it the possibility of rehabilitating themselves.

"[75] The church views life and health as precious gifts from God, so adherents are encouraged to avoid excess of food, tobacco, alcohol, and medications.

Elements of just war theory are explicitly enumerated in the Catechism:[78] Martin Luther summarized the commandment against shedding innocent blood as grounded in the fear and love of God, and as having both positive and negative aspects: negative in that we must neither harm nor hurt our neighbor's body; positive in that we must help our neighbor and care for him when he is ill. You must not murder.

For God has delegated His authority to punish evil-doers to the government instead of parents, who aforetime (as we read in Moses) were required to bring their own children to judgment and sentence them to death.

Christians are therefore required to faithfully perform that which is within their power to defend the life of their neighbor, be vigilant in warding off harm, and assist in removing danger when it comes.

The Lord has been pleased to direct our attention to these two natural considerations as inducements to watch over our neighbour's preservation, viz., to revere the divine image impressed upon him, and embrace our own flesh.

He portrays lying in wait for the blood of the innocent as a grave offense against human dignity as one of the fundamental laws of nature.

It does not forbid killing in lawful war, or in our own necessary defence, nor the magistrate’s putting offenders to death, for those things tend to the preserving of life; but it forbids all malice and hatred to the person of any (for he that hateth his brother is a murderer), and all personal revenge arising therefrom; also all rash anger upon sudden provocations, and hurt said or done, or aimed to be done, in passion: of this our Saviour expounds this commandment, Mt.

And, as that which is worst of all, it forbids persecution, laying wait for the blood of the innocent and excellent ones of the earth.Many modern Calvinists, such as André Trocmé and Jacques Ellul, have been pacifists.