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Thread: The Difference Between Killing and Murdering

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    The Difference Between Killing and Murdering


    The Difference Between Killing and Murdering
    By J. Warner Wallace
    Published July 18, 2013
    The Difference Between Killing and Murdering | Cold Case Christianity

    I occasionally present a talk on the nature of truth, and as part of this presentation, I discuss the existence of objective moral truth claims. I often ask my attendees if it is ever "OK" to kill someone. Every group typically contains a large number of people who believe the Christian worldview condemns the use of deadly force unilaterally. But the Scripture delineates a distinction between killing and murdering. "You shall not kill" is actually not a command found in the Ten Commandments. The command from scripture in the original language actually says "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word for "murder" literally means "the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice."

    Interestingly, most of us are familiar
    with this definition of murder, because it is reflected in the Penal Codes of our country. In my home state of California, the Penal Code provides this definition of murder:

    187. (a) Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.

    Malice is a form of evil intent that separates "murder" from "killing"
    . Even today there are acceptable forms of killing that lack this kind of evil intent, and these forms of killing exist as exceptions in the murder laws of the United States. In California, for example, a homicide is justified (according to Penal Code sections 187, 196 and 197) if one of the following conditions is met:

    A person kills someone accidentally
    A person is trying to defend him or herself and prevent his or her own murder (self-defense)
    A person is trying to prevent someone from entering his or her house to commit some violent felony
    A person is trying to prevent the murder of someone else (protecting an innocent)

    In all these situations, killing is actually legal and justifiable, and exceptions of this nature exist in the Penal Codes of every state in America. Even those who don't accept the existence of God or the authority of the Bible recognize the necessity for laws like these; laws that allow for deadly force to be used to accomplish some greater good.

    It's interesting to note, however, these exceptions are not the invention of modern humans; they are simply a reflection of ancient Biblical Law.

    The Bible is the source
    for these modern laws and the exceptions come straight from the pages of scripture:


    An accidental killing is not murder:

    Exodus 21:12-13

    Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate.

    Numbers 35:22-25
    But if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, the assembly must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled.


    A killing performed in self-defense (or in defense of one's home) is not murder:

    Exodus 22:2

    If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed


    A killing performed in an attempt to save the life of an innocent person is not murder:

    Exodus 2:11-12

    One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. (God did not judge Moses as a murderer because he was protecting the life of the slave)

    Genesis 14:14-16
    When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. (God did not judge Abram as a murderer because he was protecting the life of Lot)


    Killing becomes murder when (and only when) it is not properly justified, and the justifications are clear: you can use whatever force necessary to protect your own life from a hostile aggressor, or to save the life of an innocent from such imminent, life-threatening danger. The difference between the legal or illegal use of deadly force is really a matter of motive, intent and justification, and these distinctions come straight from the pages of Scripture.











    This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (futility) of their mind, having the understanding darkened...
    (Ephesians 4:17-18)

    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...
    (Psalm 1)

  2. #2
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Yeah, I've always known about that distinction. If killing is wrong, God sure ordered a lot of killing in the OT. "Killing becomes murder when (and only when) it is not properly justified..." That's why we don't totally understand some of the killing God ordered in the OT because we don't understand things from His perspective. We don't fully understand his judgements, the 'whys' of them. I've just gotten through reading through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and just started on Deuteronomy. Lots of killing in there ordered by God in war, and that includes the women and children and babies. Do I understand it? No. But I know it can't be unjust or 'murder' because it's being ordered by God. I've heard a few explanations that kind of make sense. If anyone has the explanation feel free to inform me. :)

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    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    Do I understand it? No. But I know it can't be unjust or 'murder' because it's being ordered by God. I've heard a few explanations that kind of make sense. If anyone has the explanation feel free to inform me. :)
    Not sure any explanation can totally suffice -

    Is it possible that some people, tribes, cities, nations have gone beyond mercy and redemption and there is nothing left but judgement. Sodom and Gomorrah seems to imply they were now beyond redemption
    The wrath poured out before Jesus returns seems to reveal the whole earth had reached this critical mass of evil and there was no more mercy but only judgement

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    Not sure any explanation can totally suffice -

    Is it possible that some people, tribes, cities, nations have gone beyond mercy and redemption and there is nothing left but judgement. Sodom and Gomorrah seems to imply they were now beyond redemption
    The wrath poured out before Jesus returns seems to reveal the whole earth had reached this critical mass of evil and there was no more mercy but only judgement
    The Amalekites come to mind here. If any survive the slaughter per the judgments of God, it seems logical they would grow up and be twice as bitter and demonic as the parents. Women would raise their young in maintaining the bitter hatred for Israel.

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    Senior Member Nikos's Avatar
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    All Murder is killing, but not all killing is murder.

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