So is it Do not Murder or Do not Kill and what's the difference?

If you look in different translations for the bible, you will see the two different statements. Of the ten commandments, I have seen it in both forms.

'Do not Kill' or 'Do not Murder'

One would ask what would be the difference, since in both actions the life is taken.

The ten commandments is first seen in the book of Exodus chapter 20. The one we are referring to in this article is the sixth commandment. I have a interlinear bible that provides the Hebrew writing as well as the direct translation. No, I cannot read Hebrew. However, in this, the direct translation is the following.

Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder."

So the direct translation is 'murder' not kill. That answers the first part.

Wikipedia defines murder as "Murder is the unlawful killing of one human being by another through any action intended (or in some countries also being recklessly indifferent) to kill or cause grievous bodily harm."

Websters Collegiate Dictionary defines murder as; "The offense of unlawful killing a human being with malice aforethought, express or implied."

So again, it appears murder is the 'unlawful killing' of a human being by another human being. We can call this act homicidal in nature.

I make this point, because murder is not defined as an action of war, nor a means of defense. So there is cause for 'killing' but no cause for 'murder'. There is a difference.

Now, does that mean it's nice to kill? Of course not, but there is a distinction of the two.