Killing

The definition of “killing” is to deprive of life, to cause the death of. The definition of “murder” is to commit the crime of unlawfully killing a person. In Exodus 20:13, the Hebrew word רָצַח (ratsach) means to murder, not to kill. Soldiers who fight and kill the enemy in wars for America are not murderers, as some loudly and erroneously profess in our society. It is not wrong to kill as authorized by God in justified war.

““You shall not murder.”  (Exodus 20:13, NASB)

It was wrong for Cain to murder Abel in Genesis 4:8-11.

“Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. “Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.”  (Genesis 4:8-11, NASB)

Under the doctrine of capital punishment, people who are executed under the laws of that country are not murdered. Gen. 9:5-6; Num. 35:30-31; Matt. 26:52; Rom. 13:4. See category on Capital Punishment.

““Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.”  (Genesis 9:5-6, NASB)

“‘If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. ‘Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.”  (Numbers 35:30-31, NASB)

“Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.”  (Matthew 26:52, NASB)

“for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”  (Romans 13:4, NASB)

When a nation is going downhill, socialistic thinking wants to abolish all forms of capital punishment and advocates disarmament. To attempt to disarm all nations for world peace is as stupid as advocating abolishing all law enforcement in order to wipe out crime. See category on War.