Overview
Murder represents one of the most serious sins in Scripture, explicitly prohibited in the Ten Commandments. Unlike accidental killing, murder involves deliberate intent to take another's life. Throughout the Old Testament, murderers were subject to capital punishment, reflecting the severity with which God views the unlawful destruction of human life made in His image.
Key Scriptures
"So Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him" (Genesis 4:8, ESV). "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood" (Proverbs 6:16-17, ESV). "If he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death" (Numbers 35:16, ESV).
Application
Believers must value human life as sacred, recognizing that harboring hatred toward others violates the spirit of God's law against murder and reflects a heart in need of Christ's transforming grace.
✦ Scripture References 40 references
✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 163 verses
Abimelech
Abominates
Absalom
Adrammelech, &c
Ahab
Amalekite
Baasha
Barabbas
By a hand weapon of wood
By an instrument of iron
By lying in wait
By the blow of a stone
Cain
Characteristic of the devil
Chief priests
Comes from the heart
Connected with idolatry
Cries for vengeance
Curses those guilty of
David
Death
Deprecate the guilt of
Devise
Early introduction of
Elders of Jezreel
Encourage others to commit
Esau
Excludes from heaven
Explained by Christ
Fearful and cowardly
Filled with
Flee from God's presence
Forbidden
Forbidden by Mosaic law
From hatred
Had no protection from altars
Hands
Hatred is
Have hands full of
Hazael
Herodias and her daughter
Imputed to the nearest city when the murderer was unknown
Inflicted by the nearest of kin
Intent on
Is a work for the flesh
Ishmael
Jews
Jezebel
Joab
Joseph's brethren
Judas
Killing a thief in the day, counted as
Land
Lie in wait to commit
Makes inquisition for
Manasseh
Men of Shechem
Mode of clearing those suspected of
Not concealed from God
Not protected in refuge cities
Not to be commuted
Not to be pitied or spared
Of saints, specially avenged
Often committed by night
People of Gilead
Perpetrate
Person and garments
Pharaoh
Princes of Israel
Punishment of
Punishment of, not commuted under the Law
Rechab
Rejects the prayers of those guilty of
Represented as a sin crying to heaven
Requires blood for
Should warn others against
Specially warned against
Swift to commit
The curse of God
The Herods
The Jews often guilty of
The law made to restrain
To be proved by two witnesses at least
Wanderers and vagabonds
Why forbidden by God
Will avenge
With premeditation
Zimri