Deuteronomy 5:16

The fifth commandment 5:16

The first four commandments deal primarily with man’s relationship to God. The last six deal with man’s relationship to man (cf. Matthew 22:37-39).

The first part of this verse contains a precept. "Honor" means to respect, reverence, venerate, glorify, and give heed to (cf. Leviticus 19:3; John 19:26-27). All parents are worthy of honor in word and deed regardless of their personal characters because they are responsible for giving life to their children. As we should honor God for His creative activity (Deuteronomy 5:15; Exodus 20:11), so we should honor our parents for theirs. Parents are God’s instruments in giving us life.

"Essentially kabbed (the piel imperative of kabed) carries the nuance of weighing down with honor or respect. In the particular stem used here the idea is declaring to someone or effectively conveying to something the quality of honor. The command to honor therefore is a command to demonstrate in tangible, empirical ways the respect people must have for their parents." [Note: Ibid., p. 153.]

Obedience is one form of honor. God has commanded children to obey their parents as well as to honor them (Colossians 3:20; cf. Luke 2:51). This responsibility to obey lasts as long as they are children. When they cease to be children the responsibility to obey ends, but the duty to honor continues.

The second part of the verse contains a promise. God promised the Israelites long life in the Promised Land of Canaan (cf. Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 5:9-10). He has promised Christians long life on earth (Ephesians 6:1-3).