Faith Tidbit #27

Scholars refer to the Ten Commandments as the decalog. This is a compound word from an ancient translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint, which was commonly read by diaspora Jews in the days of Jesus and the apostles. Deca, which appears in our common word, decade, means ten and logoi means words. Thus, the commandments are referred to as the ten words. The original Hebrew texts of the Old Testament give no title to the Ten Commandments. As noted in The Lutheran Cyclopedia, "The Bible gives us no basis for numbering of the Commandments or of determining their respective position..."