The Ten Commandments

“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (Luke 10:26)

Is there any reason God chose the particular Ten Commandments? 

For example, why did He say “Thou shalt not bear false witness” instead of simply “Thou shalt not lie”? Why there are ten of them, and not seven or fifteen? 

 

This article explains the spiritual pattern behind the Ten Commandments.  The Ten Commandments are actually part of a larger divine pattern based on four eternal and universal spiritual laws. These laws form a motif that is repeated over and over again in both the Old and New Testaments.

 

First, we will show what the four laws or principles are.

Next, we will how the Ten Commandments are tied to these four laws.

Next, we will show how this pattern is repeated many times in key parts of Scripture.

Finally, we will discuss how mercy and love relate to the law, in light of this understanding.

The Four Laws

The four laws are spiritual and eternal. They were established by God before the foundation of the world. However, human beings are limited and our language is limited. Even though this web page was designed and written in English, these four eternal laws were not.

Therefore, any description of them offered here is only approximate. The full knowledge and understanding of them rests only in the infinite mind of God. However, we will try to be as precise and accurate as to full meaning as we can.

1. Justice (aka Just Reciprocity)

Just reciprocity or justice is simply defined as “innocent people should not be punished, and people who do good deeds deserve reciprocation (reward).” For example, many passages in the Old Testament prohibit the “shedding of innocent blood” (Deu 19:10) Governments and courts throughout history have relied on this principle for legitimacy. (This does not necessarily mean that they always live up to it however!) For example, even the worst dictators typically feel the need to declare that a prisoner is “guilty” of something before executing them. 

 

The principle that good deeds deserve reciprocation is the moral foundation of virtually all systems of commercial trade throughout history. For example, if I eat dinner at a restaurant, the restaurant will *expect* payment. In fact, the restaurant will feel morally justified in expecting payment and will be outraged if I simply walk out without paying. However, no matter how badly the restaurant needs money, the restaurant will *not* feel justified in simply demanding money from people who are just walking by on the sidewalk.

Note: this does not mean people are required to reciprocate every single act of kindness done for them, but rather appropriate payment should not be denied if asked for. There is certainly nothing prohibiting people from giving freely of what they own and expecting nothing in return.

2. Truth (aka Integrity)

Truth or Integrity means a person's actions should match their words, and their words should match reality. This principle covers lying, stealing, dishonesty, and oath breaking. 

 

This law is the moral authority behind contract law and international treaties. One person does not have the moral right to arbitrarily impose their will on their neighbor. To do so is simply called bullying or oppression. However, if the two parties voluntarily sign a contract, each party is bound by their own word. In this case, the each party is required to honor their own word in order to remain morally consistent. 

 

As an interesting side note, the word “hypocrisy” comes from the Greek word “hypokrisis”, which means “pretending” or “play acting”. Morally speaking, a hypocrite is a person who does not really mean what they say, lacking in sincerity or integrity.

3. Equity (aka Equality)

Equity is the principle that all humanity stands equal before the Lord. In other words, the worth and rights of people are regarded equally under the law. As a corollary, people have more value than things. 

 

Thomas Jefferson described this principle as “self-evident” when he wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.” This is also the moral force behind the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement. The principle that people are worth more than things is reason that most hospitals will not refuse life-saving treatment to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

4. Faithfulness (aka Loyalty)

Loyalty says a person shall not betray a mutual trust, so as long as the relationship exists.* Out of the four fundamental moral principles of the outer court, this is the most personal. For example, C.S. Lewis observed that although different societies has differing moral standards, no society approves of running away and deserting your comrades in battle. 

 

* This law does not strictly prohibit ending a relationship, only acting in a disloyal manner while at the same time enjoying all of the benefits of the relationship. For example, a person does not commit treason if he or she formally renounces his or her citizenship first. This is why the Law of Moses permitted divorce, although divorce was not part of God's desire for marriage.

These principles were not merely inventions of Western culture or enlightenment thinking. People throughout history commonly appeal to these laws, consciously or subconsciously, when they need to justify their actions. This does not mean that they will always live up to these standards, however. What it does mean is that these laws carry a primal or “self-evident” legitimacy that is recognized by people from diverse backgrounds.

The Brazen Altar

In the outer court of the tabernacle, there was a bronze laver (water basin) and a bronze altar. Throughout the Bible, Bronze symbolizes judgment. The bronze altar represents the judgment of the Law. The outer court is where animals were sacrificed to symbolically atone for the breaking of the Law. The entire tabernacle itself was an elaborate illustration set up by God to teach us key points through the use of symbols. 

 

The altar was square and had four horns, one on each corner. The horn in the Bible represents power or authority. The four horns on the corners of the altar represents the four eternal spiritual Laws set up by God (described above).

The Tabernacle was referred to as the dwelling place of God in the wilderness. Anyone coming in from the outside must first pass through the outer court. Likewise, for people with no prior knowledge of God, the Ten Commandments was the first level of God's revelation of Himself, the outer ring. 

 

Why did God first give humanity a set of Laws? Many have noticed that the abundance of laws do not typically produce good, righteous people. Legalism alone can not produce love or true morality from the heart.

However the this was never the purpose of the Law. The purpose of the Law was to simply to define evil—not to eliminate it. To completely eliminate wrongness and replace it with love and righteousness takes a lot more than the Law is able to provide.

Does this mean that the Law is obsolete or useless? Not at all! Can one truly understand mercy without first understanding justice? Without an objective moral law that is higher than human invention, we can forgive others for hurting us or offending us, but we can not forgive anyone for wronging us. A man who has only a vague notion right and wrong can only say “I'm sorry I offended you” or “I'm sorry I made you angry”, but he can not say “I'm sorry. What I did to you was wrong” with much sincerity or meaningfulness.

Two or Three Witnesses

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Hebrews 10:28

The LORD is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
- Psalm 118:27

The Ten Commandments can be separated into two sections: the first four commandments talk about man's relationship with God and the last six talk about man's relationship with other men.

We will start with the last six that talk about man's relationship with man. Each one of these six Commandments are witnessed by at least two of the four spiritual laws. Visually, they can been seen as being tied to two horns of the altar. 

 

The purpose of the Ten Commandments is not to provide an exhaustive list of wrong activities. Even if this were possible, it would not lead to life. Rather, the Ten Commandments are real world representations of the four spiritual laws. If we break any of the Ten Commandments, we can be sure we are breaking at least two or three of God's eternal spiritual laws. In other words, the Ten Commandments are here to help us to detect evil within ourselves, not to cure it.

Commandments 5-10 (Man vs Man)

5. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long upon the land which Jehovah your God gives you.   

This commandment is witnessed by Justice and Faithfulness.

Justice: Because everyone's life came from their parents, and their parents and provided for their needs while they were helpless, honor is a minor way to reciprocate what they have received.

Faithfulness: Loyalty forbids one from betraying a mutual relationship, especially when one is enjoying the benefits of the relationship. This was especially true for the Israelites. Since the land was divided among the twelve tribes, every man lived on land belonging to their parents and ancestors. This is why God said if they did not honor their parents while they were at the same time living on their parents land, God would remove them from the land.

6. You shall not murder.    

This commandment is witnessed by Justice and Equity

Justice: Justice prohibits one from shedding innocent blood

Equity: Since worth and rights of all people are equal before the Lord, no one has the natural right to take another's life.

Faithfulness: Murder may not necessarily tied to faithfulness because it is possible to murder somebody with whom one has no prior relationship with (e.g. Total stranger)

7. You shall not commit adultery.

 This commandment is witnessed by Faithfulness and Truth

 

Faithfulness: Faithfulness requires one to be faithful to one's spouse, while the relationship exists. The Law does not prohibit a marriage to be ended at will, but one may not betray the relationship while in it

Truth: Adultery is breaking one's oath to one's spouse

8. You shall not steal. 

This commandment is witnessed by Equity and Truth 

 

Equity: Since the worth and rights of all people are equal before the Lord, no one has the natural right to take another's property.

Truth: Stealing is dishonestly claiming possession of property belonging to someone else

Faithfulness: Stealing may not necessarily tied to faithfulness because it is possible to steal from somebody with whom one has no prior relationship with (e.g. Total stranger)

Justice: In the strictest sense, stealing may not necessarily be tied to Justice, because one may simply be stealing from someone who previously stole from them.

9.You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 

 This commandment is witnessed by Justice and Truth

 

 Justice: Bearing false witness is an attempt to convict an innocent person

Truth: Bearing false witness is lying against the truth

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbor's.

This commandment is witnessed by Faithfulness and Equity 

  

 

Faithfulness: Taking possession in one's heart of anything belonging to one's neighbor's is disloyal to one's neighbor 

 

Equity: Since every man's rights and worth are equal before the Lord, nobody has the right to take possession of anything belonging to their neighbor in their heart

Commandments 1-4 (Man vs God)

1. I am Jehovah your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

 This commandment is witnessed by Justice, Faithfulness and Truth 

Justice: Because Jehovah gave the Israelites freedom from slavery in Egypt and national independence, Jehovah expects their allegiance as reasonable reciprocation.

Faithfulness: Worshiping other gods is betraying Israel's intimate relationship with Jehovah, which is likened to a marriage

Truth: According to the Torah, the Israelites witnessed many miracles and actually heard Jehovah speak to them in an audible voice from Mt. Sinai. For the Israelites to ascribe Jehovah's nature and position to someone or something else would be simply untruthful.

2. You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy to thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments.

This commandment is witnessed by Equity, Faithfulness and Truth  

Equity: Worshiping any statue or object is actually elevating the worth of that object above the worth of human beings. This is iniquity because the inherent worth of people is greater than that of inanimate objects. When the fruit of this iniquity is fully realized, the results are horrific. Although the Israelites' worship of idols started as a seemingly harmless religious activity, it degenerated after several generations into the widespread sacrificing of their children to the idol Molech. "They made a calf in Horeb And worshiped a molten image. Thus they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass." -Psa 106:19-20

Faithfulness: Worshiping other gods is betraying Israel's intimate relationship with Jehovah, which is likened to a marriage

Truth: According to the Torah, the Israelites witnessed many miracles and actually heard Jehovah speak to them in an audible voice from Mt. Sinai. For the Israelites to ascribe Jehovah's nature and position to an inanimate object would be simply untruthful.

3. You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain. For Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. 

This commandment is witnessed by Justice, Equity, and Truth 

  

Equity: To belittle Jehovah's name is to belittle Jehovah. When we belittle somebody, we are subtly exalting ourselves above that person. 

Demonstrating that we can freely use God's name in vain does deliver an emotional impact, which partially explains why people so commonly do it (often without realizing what they are actually doing).

Justice: Taking the Jehovah's name in vain is to insult an innocent party without a cause. God warns He will not hold him guiltless that takes Him name in vain.

Truth: The Hebrew word for vain (shav) also means to use His name falsely or uselessly. If one changes the meaning of the Lord's name, or empties it of meaning entirely, one is obviously using it falsely.

4. Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.

 This commandment is witnessed by Justice, Equity, and Faithfulness

Equity: Every Israelite, from the highest to the lowest, was to rest equally before the Lord, without distinction. 

 

Justice: Jehovah pointed that he gave the Israelites their freedom from Egypt. In reciprocation, Jehovah expected the Israelites to honor Him by refraining from pursuing their own interests for one day of the week. (Isa 58:13)

Faithfulness: Observing the sabbath was to be an outward sign of the Israelites unique relationship with Jehovah. (Exodus 31:13)

The LORD is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. (Psalms 118:27)

The Pattern Repeated

Did Not Come to Abolish the Law but to Fulfill

In the pivotal teaching of Matthew 5:17-46, Jesus clearly teaches that He did not come to abolish the Law (Commandments) but to fulfill it. He touches on each of the four “horns” of the Law, in sequence, and finally summarizes it with a fifth section about the perfection of love.

1^st Example: Justice

“You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.” (Matthew 5:21-30)

Jesus is saying that under the New Covenant, the principle of Justice or Just Reciprocation is far from being suspended or voided. Instead of being liable only for external wrongs such as murder, we are even liable for any undeserved anger or insults that we direct at others. Justice is often thought of as “getting even” with others, but Jesus is saying we should make every effort to be reconciled to others we may have offended. If treat Justice lightly, we will not come out of prison “until we have paid up the last cent”.

2^nd Example: Faithfulness

“You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell. It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE'; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:27-32)

Faithfulness is very important to God and to our own survival as humans. Under no circumstances will God set aside the principle of Faithfulness. In fact, Jesus says we are faithful not only through our actions, but our inner thoughts as well. Using a graphic illustration, Jesus says we are actually better off cutting off a member of our own body than to cut off our spouse by being unfaithful. Also, as we noted earlier, in the outer court, there is no prohibition against divorce. However, in the New Covenant, we are no longer simply obeying the rules of the outer court. We have entered into the Holy Place, where we see not only justice and law, but grace, mercy, and purpose. Here, Jesus is giving us a glimpse of God's vision and purpose for marriage.

3^rd Example: Truth

"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil." (Matthew 5:33-37)

In the New Covenant, we are not given permission to break our oaths. In fact, Jesus is saying that we should have such a high degree of fear for the Truth that we should avoid making oaths altogether. The reason our control over our circumstances and even ourselves is limited so we do not want to risk making an oath that we can not live up to. In fact, this is exactly what got Saul in trouble, as you will read later.

4^th Example: Equity

"You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you." (Matthew 5:38-42)

You have probably heard the expression “An eye for an eye just leaves everybody blind.” This statement is often used to point out the fallacy of revenge. This passage is actually stated three times in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:23-27, Leviticus 24:17-22, Deuteronomy 19:21). But in context, it is actually talking about equality, not just revenge. 

 

“If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him....There shall be one standard for you; it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 24:19-22)

The principle of “eye for an eye” is the principle of equality. The eye of the foreigner is worth the same as the eye of the native citizen. In the outer court, the value of each person is the same. Since we are each entitled to fair treatment, to put our value and our rights above our fellow man is sinful. This is sometimes called pride, inequality, or oppression. Jesus takes this principle a step further in the New Covenant. In the Inner Court, we not only avoid oppressing others or trampling on their rights, we voluntarily give up our position and willingly place ourselves beneath others. In the Roman Empire, a soldier could lawfully compel a subject to carry his load for one mile and one mile only. Jesus says to voluntarily serve others more than the law of equity requires. This is called humility. Although society and human nature often screams against this, this is the only doorway to the freedom of true selflessness and release from our own stifling ego and pride. By doing this, we are literally following after the true nature and heart of the GOD of the Universe...Jesus Christ.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves...Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:3-11)

Conclusion: Perfection of Love

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)

For this, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,' and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10)

The Three Transgressions of King Saul

The “four horns” of Justice, Faithfulness, Truth, and Equity are clearly illustrated in the life of Saul. In the book of Samuel, it is recorded that the Israelites, after being ruled by judges for centuries, had finally asked God for a king. God was disappointed because the reason Israel wanted king was so they could be like the other nations around them. However, God honored their request and gave them a king named Saul, provided that both they and Saul would follow closely after God. (1 Samuel 12:24-25)

Shortly after Saul became king, it was recorded that Saul sinned against God three times (three witnesses). After the third sin, God said He would tear the kingdom from Saul's hand and give it to one more worthy than Saul. (1 Samuel 15:10-35)

1^st Transgression: Unfaithfulness (1 Samuel 13:1-14)

The Israelites were facing a battle with the Philistines and the Israelites were greatly outnumbered. Saul was supposed to wait for Samuel to offer a sacrifice to the Lord before going into battle. However, Samuel was apparently late in showing up, the people started to get nervous. Afraid that the people would desert him, Saul went ahead and offered the sacrifice himself. However, this was strictly forbidden by God, as only Levites were allowed to sacrifice to the Lord, and Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin. By fearing the people more than God, Saul acted unfaithfully to the Lord.

2^nd Transgression: Making Careless Oaths (1 Samuel 14:1-45)

When Saul's son Jonathan led a successful attack against the Philistines, it was a pivotal event that turned the tide in favor of the Israelites. Soon the entire Philistine army was in confusion and the Israelites had the Philistines on the run. Saul pronounced an oath that any man in his army who would touch food until evening would be cursed, so that Saul could be avenged on his enemies. Jonathan, not hearing about his father's oath, tasted some honey. Later when Saul and the priests asked counsel of God, the Lord did not answer. Sensing that some sin had been committed, they drew lots and the lot fell on Jonathan. Jonathan then told Saul about the honey he ate and Saul said that Jonathan his own son must therefore die because he broke the oath. However, because Jonathan was so instrumental in delivering victory to the Israelites, the people rallied to Jonathan's defense and Jonathan did not die. However, by making a careless oath, Saul transgressed against the law of Truth or Integrity.

3^rd Transgression: Showing favoritism (iniquity) (1 Samuel 15:1-28)

The principle of equity comes from the fact that all people are equal before the Lord. The Lord told Saul that the Lord was going to take vengeance on the Amalekites for what they did to His people Israel. Saul was to kill every living thing the Amalekites owned, from the king to the women and children, including every animal. However, Saul and his men killed all of the people, but spared the Amalekite king, Agag, and kept for themselves the best of their sheep, oxen, and cattle. But everything that they despised and considered feeble, they destroyed completely. When God saw this, He was very displeased. Even through what could be considered a merciful act, Saul was showing favoritism to those he considered worthy in his own eyes. What God said to Saul about this incident is very revealing: “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel, and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.' "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" 

 

After this third transgression (witness), God officially broke ties with Saul. It is written that Samuel no longer saw Saul until he died, and the Lord immediately had Samuel go out and anoint Saul's successor as king over Israel. Saul's successor, although far from perfect, would be described by God as a man after God's own heart. This, of course, was King David.

Six, Yes Seven Things the Lord Hates

"There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers." (Proverbs 6:16-19)

This well-known list in Proverbs contains at least two patterns woven into the same passage.

One of the patterns covers parts of the body: Haughty eyes, lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.

The second pattern is that each of the four horns are covered in this list:

“Haughty eyes” (opposite of Equality)

“Lying tongue” (opposite of Truth)

“Hands that shed innocent blood” (opposite of Justice)

“One who spreads strife among brothers” (opposite of Loyalty or Faithfulness)

Other Examples

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words [Truth], saying, 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.' For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor [Justice], if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow [Equity], and do not shed innocent blood [Justice] in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin [Faithfulness], then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever." (Jeremiah 7:3-7)

"Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice [Justice] and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor [Equity]; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another [Faithfulness].' (Zecharaiah 7:9-10)

“The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” (Psalms 99:4)

There are many more examples in the Scriptures where these 4 “horns” or hidden laws are mentioned together. In fact, if you do a search in the Bible on a term such as “Justice” or “Equity”, you will most likely find many more examples of this pattern.