Meaning, commentary and cross references
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
NIV · New International Version
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
WEB · World English Bible
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
What does Exodus 20:12 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Exodus 20:12
Honour thy father and thy mother, &c. Which is the fifth commandment of the decalogue, but is the first commandment with promise, as the apostle says, Ephesians 6:2 and is the first of the second table: this, though it may be extended to all ancestors in the ascending line, as father's father and mother, mother's father and mother, &c. and to all such who are in the room of parents, as step-fathers and step-mothers, guardians, nurses, &c. and to all superiors in dignity and office, to kings and governors, to masters, ministers, and magistrates; yet chiefly respects immediate parents, both father and mother, by showing filial affection for them, and reverence and esteem of them, and by…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Exodus 20:12–17
The reason annexed to this commandment is a promise: That thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Having mentioned, in the preface to the commandments, has bringing them out of Egypt as a reason for their obedience, he here, in the beginning of the second table, mentions his bringing them into Canaan, as another reason; that good land they must have upon their thoughts and in their eye, now that they were in the wilderness. They must also remember, when they came to that land, that they were upon their good behaviour, and that, if they did not conduct themselves well, their days should be shortened in that land, both the days of particular persons who should be…
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Exodus 20:12
12. Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 12. Honora patrem tuum et matrem tuam-- ut prorogentur dies tui super terram quam Jehova Deus tuus dat tibi. Calvin Harmony of the Law - Volume 3Exodus 20:12.Honor thy father Although charity (as being "the bond of perfectness," Colossians 3:14) contains the sum of the Second Table, still, mutual obligation does not prevent either parents or others, who are in authority, from retaining their proper position.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Exodus 20:9–15 (WEB)
9You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy. 12“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 13“You shall not murder. 14“You shall not commit adultery. 15“You shall not steal.
Cross references
- Ephesians 6:1–3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 5:16
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
- Mark 7:10
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
- Proverbs 23:22–25
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
- Leviticus 19:3
“‘Each one of you shall respect his mother and his father. You shall keep my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
- Proverbs 30:17
“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
- Proverbs 1:8–9
My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
Key words
In the Baptist Catechism
- Q69. Which is the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment is, “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”