Exodus · Chapter 20 · Family

Exodus 20:12 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.

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Read in chapter context · Exodus 20

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you."

KJV · King James Version

"Honour3513 thy father1 and thy mother517: that thy days3117 may be long748 upon the land127 which the LORD3068 thy God430 giveth5414 thee."

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses honour, thy, upon, lord, while the WEB renders these as honor, your, yahweh, gives. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Exodus 20:12 in Exodus 20

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Exodus 20:12 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Exodus 20. Read the full chapter →

v.10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates;
v.11 for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.
v.12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
v.13 “You shall not murder.
v.14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Book background

About the Book of Exodus

Testament: Old Testament
Genre: Law (Pentateuch)
Author: Moses (traditional)
Date written: c. 1446–1406 BC
Audience: Israel after the Exodus from Egypt
Chapters: 40

Exodus tells how God rescued Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt through Moses, the ten plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea. It then describes the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, the establishment of the Mosaic covenant, and detailed instructions for the tabernacle — God's dwelling place among His people. The book defines Israel's identity as a redeemed, covenant nation.

Setting: Composed during the wilderness years; documents Israel's deliverance, the Sinai covenant, and the building of the tabernacle.

Key themes: deliverance · covenant · law · worship · God's presence

Read Exodus from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Exodus 20:12

Exodus 20:12 contains 21 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

“Honor your father and your mother

HYFAYM
2

that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.

TYDMBL

Frequently asked

FAQ about Exodus 20:12

What does Exodus 20:12 say?

Exodus 20:12 reads: "“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you." — from the Old Testament, Exodus (Law (Pentateuch)). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Exodus 20:12 in?

Exodus 20:12 is in the book of Exodus, traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional) and written around c. 1446–1406 BC. Exodus is law (pentateuch) in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Israel after the Exodus from Egypt. Best known for the Exodus, the Ten Commandments, and the burning bush.

What is Exodus 20:12 about?

Exodus 20:12 is primarily a Bible verse about Family. Within Exodus, Exodus tells how God rescued Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt through Moses, the ten plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Exodus 20:12 in WEB and KJV?

Exodus 20:12 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Honour3513 thy father1 and thy mother517: that thy days3117 may be long748 upon the land127 which the LORD3068 thy God430 giveth5414 thee.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Exodus 20:12?

Exodus 20:12 is 21 words in the WEB translation (107 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 6 seconds.

How can I memorise Exodus 20:12?

To memorise Exodus 20:12, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Exodus 20:12 matter in Exodus?

How can I apply Exodus 20:12 today?

Many readers use Exodus 20:12 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Exodus 20:12 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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