Bible Study Thou Shalt Not Kill vs. You Shall Not Murder

[Vanguard]

I am not interested in the KJV vs. the NASB. I am an advocate for the NASB so that's not an issue with me. What I am interested in is whether you think the commandment correctly translated is:

"Thou Shalt Not Kill" or "You Shall Not Murder" as they imply two different meanings.

If kill is your interpretation, then wars and self defense are in violation of this commandment.

If murder is your interpretation, then wars and self defense are justifiable.

Opinions?

Edit: I won't be replying or trying to prove one side or the other. I am just interested in different opinions.

 

[WIP]

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I have felt that murder is more close to accurate but then one must define murder. It's also noteworthy that Jesus is credited with using both terms in the same gospel and in the same version, the KJV.

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:21-22

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
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,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 19:16-19

 

[Sinthesis]

Did David kill Goliath or murder him?
Did David kill Uriah or murder him?

 

[Classik]

Seems 'murder' is the senior brother of 'kill'.

 

[Obadiah]

The context of this commandment in light of all other scripture shows it is referring to murder as a specific type of killing, but not referring to all killing. In this case the original word translated to kill or murder can mean either. We have to look at the context in which it is written as well as the context of all of scripture. If it means "murder", by definition the purposeful and unlawful taking of a human life, the entirety of scripture supports murder being a violation of this commandment. If it means "kill" then there are numerous places in scripture where God clearly approves of the type of killing illustrated but would be violations of this commandment, including killing animals for food and sacrifice.

 

[Kaliani]

I think He gave that commandment to state, for the record, His ultimate position on the issue of killing. I don't think any killing happens in Heaven for ANY reason.

This shows how great is the gulf between the Earth and God's holiness and perfection.

That God allows killing in various situations shows that God's mercy is even greater than this gulf. Sometimes, killing is the lesser evil, and He understands that.

But to His holiness, a lesser evil is evil still and we need His mercy to cover it.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Murder or killing, neither one is Christian.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:43-48 that we are to love our enemies.
We are soldiers for Christ and should put on the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18.
We are to be armed with weapons of righteousness, 2 Corinthians 6:7b.
As soldiers of Christ, our weapons are prayer and the Word of God.
Anyone who supports the military actions of their country are stating their nationalism, not their Christianity.