Written by: Becky Hunter in Becky Hunter's Random Bits of Wisdom on February 20, 2012

Exodus 20: 1-17

If God had given us an 11th commandment maybe it would have been “Thou shalt know the first 10.”

Whether you always meant to learn the Ten Commandments but just never got around to it or you memorized them long ago and would appreciate an easy way to teach them to someone else, here is a “hand-y” way to remember them.

First Commandment
Raise your index finger on your right hand. — I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods before me.

Second Commandment
Raise your first two fingers on your right hand. The second looks like the first, but it isn’t. — You shall not make an imitation, a carved image; you shall not bow down and worship it.

Third Commandment
Raise three fingers of your right hand to form a “W”. — Watch your words. Do not take the name of God in vain.

Fourth Commandment
Open your right hand, raise your four fingers and “rest” your thumb on your palm beneath them. — Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Fifth Commandment
Open your right hand and holding all five digits together salute. — Honor your father and mother.

Sixth Commandment
Open your left hand and point your right index finger into the palm of your open left hand. — Do not murder.

Seventh Commandment
Raise the first two fingers of your right hand and place them behind your open left hand. — These two shall not go off together hiding behind others to do sinful things. Do not commit adultery.

Eighth Commandment
Raise all eight fingers into the air with palms facing away from you to resemble the bars of a cell. — Do not steal.

Ninth Commandment
Turn your palms toward each other and raise all five digits on your left hand. Wiggle your right thumb under the upraised fingers of your right hand. — This person (the wiggly right thumb) shall not bring to these persons (fingers on right hand) a false witness about the others (five digits of left hand).

Tenth Commandment
Open both hands and turn both palms up and motion toward yourself to represent “gimme, gimme.” — You shall not covet anything your neighbor has.

Once we know them all may God give us the desire and strength to obey them. I’m praying for you!