Ten Complete Commandments Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mount Sinai

According to Exodus 19:20 (NKJV):
"Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up."

Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. This is traditionally believed to be located in the Sinai Peninsula. The exact location of Mount Sinai has been the subject of much debate and speculation, but the traditional site is generally identified as Jebel Musa, or "Mountain of Moses", which is in present-day Egypt.

Some scholars and researchers have proposed alternative locations for Mount Sinai, including sites in present-day Saudi Arabia. One such theory suggests Jebel al-Lawz as the true Mount Sinai, although these views are less widely accepted in mainstream scholarship.

Answer: Deuteronomy

The Ten Commandments are written in two places in the Bible: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. The book of Exodus is the first account of the Ten Commandments, given directly by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. This version describes the initial revelation of the commandments to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt.

The book of Deuteronomy is where Moses recaps the commandments to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This retelling occurs many years after the events at Mount Sinai and serves to reaffirm the covenant between God and the new generation of Israelites. This is essentially a reiteration for a new audience and in a different context.

While the core content of the commandments remains the same, there are slight variations in wording between the two accounts. These variations reflect different emphases or additional clarifications provided by Moses. For instance, the reason for keeping the Sabbath day is linked to creation in Exodus and to the liberation from Egypt in Deuteronomy. Having the commandments listed twice also highlights their importance and reaffirms the Israelites' and their allies' commitment to them.

Answer: Forty days and nights

Moses received the Ten Commandments through a direct encounter with God on Mount Sinai. The commandments were first spoken by God and then written on stone tablets by God's finger. Moses went up the mountain and stayed there for forty days and forty nights. These days and nights that Moses spent on Mount Sinai were a time of intense communion with God. During this period, Moses received the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle, the priesthood, and various laws, in addition to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:18, 31:18).

The forty days and nights that Moses spent on Mount Sinai hold significant symbolic and theological meaning in the Bible. This period is mentioned in the context of several important biblical events and themes. This prolonged period allowed Moses to prepare spiritually to receive and transmit God's laws to the Israelites. Furthermore, it highlighted the seriousness and sanctity of the laws being given. The number '40' appears multiple times in the Bible as a symbol of testing, trial, and preparation, like the duration of the deluge in Noah's time or the years of wandering of the Israelites after the exodus from Egypt.

Answer: The Israelites erected an idol

After Moses spent forty days and nights on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and other instructions from God, the Israelites grew impatient and worried about his prolonged absence. They asked Aaron, Moses' brother and the High Priest, to make them gods to lead them. Aaron complied and fashioned a golden calf from their collected jewelry. The people then began to worship the idol, engaging in revelry and pagan practices (Exodus 32:1-6).

When he returned, in his anger at seeing the idol, Moses threw down the stone tablets. They broke at the foot of the mountain. This act symbolized the breaking of the covenant that the Israelites had made with God through their disobedience and idolatry (Exodus 32:19).

Answer: Decalogue

The Ten Commandments are often referred to as the Decalogue, a term derived from the Greek words "deka" (δέκα) meaning "ten" and "logos" (λόγος) meaning "word" or "saying". Thus, "Decalogue" literally means "ten words" or "ten sayings". The term "Decalogue" has its roots in the Bible, specifically in the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint (LXX).

The concept of the "ten words" comes from the Hebrew Bible, where the commandments are referred to as "עשרת הדברים" (Aseret HaDvarim), which means "the ten words" or "the ten matters" (Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13, Deuteronomy 10:4, all NKJV).

Answer: Honour your father and your mother

In the Bible, the commandment that includes a specific reward is the fifth commandment. This commandment focuses on honouring one's parents, and it comes with a promise of longevity. As per Exodus 20:12 (NKJV):
"Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

This commandment is a directive to show respect, obedience, and care for one's parents. This honour extends beyond mere obedience and includes a sense of respect and appreciation for the role of parents. The apostle Paul references this commandment in Ephesians 6:2-3 of the New Testament, emphasizing its unique nature as the first commandment with a promise attached to it.

The inclusion of a reward in this commandment highlights the importance of family and the foundational role of parents in the moral and spiritual upbringing of children. It underscores the belief that societal well-being is closely linked to the health of family relationships. Honouring parents is seen as a critical component of a stable and prosperous community. By aligning personal conduct with divine blessings and societal harmony, the Bible emphasizes the importance of respecting one's elders.

Answer: False

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." (NKJV)

According to Exodus 20:8-11, the commandment begins with an instruction to "remember" the Sabbath day. This implies both recollection and observance. The word "remember" suggests the day should be kept in mind continuously, not just as an afterthought. The commandment specifically specifies that no one in the household is to work, including family members, all servants, all labour animals, and even foreigners residing among them. This universal cessation of work underscores the totality of rest and communal observance.

While the commandment instructs us to keep the day "holy" and the day is "hallowed", it does not specifically say in Exodus that the day is to be used either for prayer or for repentance. The reasoning for this commandment is rooted in the story of creation from the book of Genesis: God created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all within them in six days and rested on the seventh. God's rest is the model for human rest, and God's blessing and sanctification of the Sabbath provide the divine endorsement for this practice.

Answer: God

Exodus 31:18 (NKJV):
"And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God."
Deuteronomy 9:10 (NKJV):
"Then the Lord delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God..."

The phrase "written with the finger of God" signifies that the Ten Commandments were directly inscribed by God, rather than by a human hand. While humans are prone to error, God was considered infallible and there can be no mistake with the commandments. This underscores the divine origin and authority of these commandments. The use of stone tablets indicates permanence and durability, which symbolizes that God's laws are eternal and unchanging.

Answer: In the tabernacle

Exodus 25:21-22 (NKJV):
"You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel."

The Ten Commandments, inscribed on two stone tablets, were stored in the Ark of the Covenant, which was placed inside the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary that the Israelites carried with them during their wanderings in the wilderness. The Ark, also known as the Ark of the Testimony, was a sacred chest overlaid with gold, featuring a cover called the mercy seat, flanked by sculptures of two cherubim.

The instruction to place the commandments inside the Ark emphasizes their supreme importance and sacredness. The Ark itself was housed in the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Tabernacle, where God's presence was believed to dwell. The significance of the location underscores the idea that the commandments were not just rules, but rather a divine testimony of God's will and covenant with Israel. The Ark served as the physical representation of God's throne on earth. They indicated that God's guidance and judgement were grounded in the laws provided.

Answer: Your neighbour's money

Exodus 20:17 (NKJV):
"You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour's."

The tenth commandment addresses the inner desires and thoughts that can lead to sinful actions. Unlike the other commandments, which primarily focus on external actions, this commandment deals with the internal state of mind and heart. It forbids coveting, which means having an inordinate desire for something that belongs to someone else. This commandment covers a broad range of possible objects of covetousness, including a neighbour's house, spouse, servants, and possessions.

The significance of the tenth commandment lies in its focus on internal morality. It teaches that sin begins in the heart and mind, and it is not just the actions that matter but the thoughts and desires that precede them. By prohibiting covetousness, this commandment aims to prevent the discontent and envy that can lead to the other aforementioned sins such as lying, theft, adultery, and even murder. It underscores the importance of contentment and gratitude for what one has, fostering a sense of peace and satisfaction with one's own life circumstances.