Devarim 5: The Ten (slightly different) Commandments

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Apr 7, 2026 · 4m

There are a few differences between the Exodus and Deuteronomy versions of the Ten Commandments. The most striking differences appear in the fourth commandment, the commandment of Shabbat.

1) “Remember” vs. “Keep”

In Exodus, the commandment opens with:

“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)

זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ

In Deuteronomy, Moshe instead says:

“Keep the Sabbath day holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 5:12)

שָׁמוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ

“Remembering” (zachor) is usually associated with…