Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

EXODUS 20:12KJV
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Exodus 20:12 (KJV)

What does Exodus 20:12 mean?

Exodus 20:12 commands people to honor their father and mother so that they may enjoy a long life in the land given by the LORD their God. This verse links respect for parents with the promise of stability and longevity in the community’s homeland.

God is speaking to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, giving them the Ten Commandments as part of their covenant relationship. The instruction to honor parents stands out as the first commandment that deals with relationships between people, not just with God. In this context, honoring parents was seen as foundational for a healthy society and for passing down faith and tradition.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 20:12

  • "Honour" (כָּבֵד, kavēd, H3513) means to give weight or value to someone, often understood as showing deep respect, not just outward obedience. This word suggests a lasting attitude of respect, not just actions.
  • "Days" (יֹום, yom, H3117) and "long" (אָרַךְ, arak, H748) together point to the idea of a full, enduring life, not just individual longevity but also the continued well-being of the community.
  • "Land" (אֲדָמָה, adamah, H127) refers specifically to the promised territory God is giving Israel, tying the command to the people’s future in a real, physical place.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH, H3068) and "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim, H430) both appear, emphasizing that this command comes with the authority of Israel’s covenant God.

Why Exodus 20:12 matters

  • Exodus 20:12 clarifies that honoring parents is not just a private matter but is tied to the well-being and future of the whole community.
  • The verse emphasizes that respect for family is foundational to Israel’s life in the land, showing that social stability begins at home.
  • By connecting this command to a promise, Exodus 20:12 reveals the seriousness with which God treats family relationships and the broader impact of personal actions on the community’s destiny.

Where else these words appear

“long” Hebrew H748 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 26:8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
  • Deuteronomy 25:15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
  • Proverbs 28:2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

“Honour” Hebrew H3513 · used in 109 verses

  • Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
  • 2 Samuel 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
  • Proverbs 12:9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.