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What are the Ten Commandments?

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Answer:

Jewish Answer:

The phrase 'The Ten Commandments', although very well known, isn't the actual name. The original Hebrew is 'Aseret HaDibrot' which translates to 'The Ten Statements' or 'The Ten Utterances'. All the mitzvot (guidelines) found in the Torah relate back to these statements. They are (from OU.org):

"Anochi HaShem Elokecha…" - "I am the L-rd your G-d, etc." - To have faith in G-d's existence, His concern for the world, His intervention at will in the affairs of the world, and His infinite might.
"Lo Yiheheh Lecha …" - "You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence, etc." - the prohibition against idolatry.
"Lo Tisa …" - You shall not take the Name of the L-rd your G-d in vain, etc." - Do not disgrace Hashem's Name by using it for no valid purpose. This mainly refers to swearing an oath to HaShem that you do not mean to keep are cannot keep.
Version A: "Zachor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho …" - "Remember the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy, etc. - Sanctify the Day of Shabbat by treating it as a Day of Delight, and by the recitation of Kiddush, etc. (Shemot 20:8-11) Version B: "Shamor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho…" - "Protect the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy, etc" - Observe the Day of Shabbat as a Day of Rest by refraining from "Melacha," creative, purposeful interaction with nature, etc. (Devarim 5:12-15)
"Kabed et avicha v'et imecha…" - "Honor your Father and your Mother…" - Revering and honoring one's parents is considered a basic commandment in Judaism from the perspective that there are three partners involved in the creation of a human being: one's parents and G-d Himself. That is why this Commandment is included with the first five, which are considered basically between Man and his Creator. This is also understood to refer to teachers.
"Lo Tirtzach" - "You shall not Murder" - Since the human being is created in the "image of G-d," the level of seriousness of violation of this commandment should not be minimized. Certain taking of life is sanctioned by the Torah, as is the case in the "arba mitot bet din," the four forms of capital punishment, which are at least theoretically part of the legal code of the Torah; or the taking of life involved in a "milchemet mitzvah," "an obligatory war." However, outside of the limited exceptions, the diminution of the "Tzelem Elokim," the "image of G-d" in the world is one of the three Cardinal crimes, for which one must give up his or her life, rather than violate.
"Lo Tinaf" - "You shall not commit adultery" - Strictly speaking, this prohibition involves cohabiting with a married woman.
"Lo Tignov" - Literally, this means "You shall not steal;" however, this Commandment has been interpreted to refer to only one kind of theft; namely, to someone who kidnaps a person, forces him or her to work for him, and then sells him or her into slavery. This, like the previous prohibitions mentioned in the verse, murder and adultery, is a Capital Crime; that is, punishable by the death-penalty. "Garden-variety" stealing is prohibited by the Torah in Vayikra 19:11, where it says "You shall not steal, you shall not deny falsely, and you should not lie one to another."
"Lo Taaneh ve'reacha ed shaker" - "Do not give false testimony against your neighbor." Giving testimony is a very serious matter in Judaism; one then has the power with words to directly affect someone else's life.
"Lo Tachmod beit reiecha,…" - "You shall not covet your fellow's house. You shall not covet your fellow's wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow." This is an area where the Torah legislates regarding a person's inner thoughts and feelings. Only a Divine Lawgiver could possibly legislate in this way, for He knows our innermost thoughts and feelings. The meaning of the prohibition is that a person should regard another's possessions as totally beyond his possibility of acquisition.

Christian Answer:

The Ten Commandments were given directly to Moses by God at Mount Sinai after He had delivered the Jews from slavery in Egypt.

They appear twice in the first five books of the Bible (The Torah, or 5 Books of Moses): in Exodus 20:2--17 (sometimes referred to as the "Ritual Decalogue") and in Deuteronomy 5:6--21 (the "Ethical Decalogue"). To make matters worse, each of the major religions and denominations which use the 10 Commandments puts them in a slightly different order and wording.

In the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition, the first and second of these are considered one commandment.
In the Catholic and Lutheran Christian traditions, the first three of these are considered one commandment, and the final one of these is considered two commandments.
In most other Christian traditions, the first of these is not considered a commandment.

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Musdan77

First answer by Itchie.c2. Last edit by Anovia. Contributor trust: 514 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 57 [recommend question].

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