[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/commandment/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / commandment # commandment noun (a commandment, commandments) «commandment» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. (Bible) A commandment is a rule given by God; the Ten Commandments are rules God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, such as "Do not steal" and "Honour your father and your mother". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#m1) 2. (formal) A commandment is any strong rule or order. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#m2) ### In the lessons In RE and Sunday school children learn the Ten Commandments, carved on two stone tablets; Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. In everyday jokes people speak of "the eleventh commandment" for a family rule. Phrases: the Ten Commandments, keep the commandments, break a commandment, the greatest commandment. ### Examples - Moses came down the mountain with the Ten Commandments. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#x1) - "You shall not steal" is one of the commandments. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#x2) - Jesus said, "Love one another" was a new commandment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#x3) - Our class made a poster of the Ten Commandments. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#x4) - Mum's eleventh commandment is "Thou shalt not leave wet towels on the floor." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#x5) - Keeping the commandments is hard sometimes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#x6) - The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/#x7) ### Note Countable; plural commandments. Spelling: command + ment (two m's after the co). Old-style "thou shalt" means "you shall". A command is any order; a commandment is usually a solemn, lasting rule. ## In Jewish tradition A rule or order given by God, like those God gave to Moses for the people of Israel to keep. Often "My commandments" means all of God's laws together. **Interpretation.** Tradition counts 613 commandments (mitzvot) in the Torah, some to do and some not to do. Keeping them is seen as the way of living in the covenant with God. ### Examples - And ye shall keep My commandments, and do them: I am the LORD. (Torah LEV.22.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/commandment/#x1) - If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them; (Torah LEV.26.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/commandment/#x2) - But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments; (Torah LEV.26.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/commandment/#x3) - If they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments; (Writings PSA.89.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/commandment/#x4) - I made haste, and delayed not, to observe Thy commandments. (Writings PSA.119.60, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/commandment/#x5) - And now, this commandment is for you, O ye priests. (Prophets MAL.2.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/commandment/#x6) ### Note Countable; plural commandments. Spelling: command + ment (two m's after the co). Old-style "thou shalt" means "you shall". A command is any order; a commandment is usually a solemn, lasting rule. ## Early Modern English ### Meaning A firm order or law given by God or by a ruler, which people must obey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/commandment/#m1) ### Then and now Today commandment mostly means one of God's rules. The sentence about the Caliph's commandment uses the old sense of a ruler's order, which we would now call an order. ### Examples - Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God; (Torah DEU.1.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/commandment/#x1) - The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. (The Arabian Nights Entertainments) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/commandment/#x2) - And they took their first journey, according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. (Torah NUM.10.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/commandment/#x3) ### Note Today: order, rule. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «commandment» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commandment/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«commandment» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/commandment.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «commandment» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/commandment/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«commandment» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/commandment.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «commandment» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/C/commandment/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«commandment» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/commandment.html) on Mova free.