Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

MARK 10:19KJV
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Mark 10:19 (KJV)

What does Mark 10:19 mean?

In Mark 10:19, Jesus answers a man who has asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus points him to familiar commandments that concern how people treat one another, including honesty, faithfulness, and respect for parents.

Jesus begins, “Thou knowest the commandments,” addressing the man as someone already familiar with them. Most of the commands Jesus names come from the Ten Commandments, which his Jewish listeners would have recognized from their Scriptures.

The Greek behind Mark 10:19

  • “Defraud” — ἀποστερέω (apostereō): This word carries the sense of depriving someone of what belongs to them. It points to wrongful gain at another person’s expense, such as withholding what is owed.
  • “Honour” — τιμάω (timaō): This word means to value or show respect to someone. In this verse, it describes the regard a person is to give to father and mother.

Why Mark 10:19 matters

  • Jesus selects commands about dealings with other people. His list moves from prohibitions such as “Do not steal” to the positive instruction to honour father and mother.
  • “Defraud not” stands alongside commands from the Ten Commandments, though that exact wording is not in their list in Exodus 20. It gives the man another way to think about wrongdoing against a neighbour.
  • The man’s reply in the next verse leads the conversation further. He says he has observed these commands from his youth, and Jesus then speaks to him about his possessions in Mark 10:21.

Where else these words appear

“Do” Greek G5576 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
  • Mark 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
  • Luke 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

“Defraud” Greek G650 · used in 6 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
  • 1 Corinthians 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
  • 1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

“Do” Greek G5407 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
  • Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
  • James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

“Do” Greek G3431 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
  • Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
  • Romans 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?