eighth commandment
C1formal, literary, religious
Definition
Meaning
The biblical commandment from Exodus 20:15: 'Thou shalt not steal'.
The principle or moral rule prohibiting the unlawful taking of property belonging to another; a broader ethical injunction against theft, fraud, or dishonest appropriation in any form.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always used with the definite article ('the eighth commandment') and capitalized when referring specifically to the Decalogue. In extended use, it can refer to the general ethical principle rather than the specific biblical verse.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage is identical in religious contexts. Slight preference in British English for the term 'Theft Act' in legal contexts versus 'larceny statutes' in American English when making analogies.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries strong moral/religious weight. In secular extended use, can sound slightly archaic or deliberately weighty.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions. Slightly higher frequency in UK in historical/literary commentary due to Anglican tradition.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] breaks/violates the eighth commandment by [gerund phrase].The eighth commandment prohibits [noun phrase/gerund].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He wouldn't know the eighth commandment if it bit him. (humorous: implying someone is habitually dishonest)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically in ethics training: 'Violating the eighth commandment with company funds leads to termination.'
Academic
Discussed in theology, ethics, philosophy, and legal history papers on property rights.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear in formal discussions about morality or humourous accusations: 'Did you forget the eighth commandment when you took my sandwich?'
Technical
Specific reference in biblical exegesis and comparative religious studies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was accused of eighth-commandment-breaking behaviour.
- The sermon focused on not eighth-commandmenting our neighbour's goods.
American English
- The scandal revealed a pattern of eighth-commandment violations.
- He's essentially eighth-commandmented his way through life.
adverb
British English
- He acted quite eighth-commandmently, returning the wallet intact.
- The funds were handled less than eighth-commandmently.
American English
- He proceeded eighth-commandmently, ensuring all transactions were documented.
- The deal was structured not very eighth-commandmently.
adjective
British English
- It was a clear eighth-commandment issue.
- He has an eighth-commandment mentality when it comes to office supplies.
American English
- That's an eighth-commandment violation if I've ever seen one.
- She accused him of having eighth-commandment ethics.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The eighth commandment says do not steal.
- Stealing is against the eighth commandment.
- According to the Bible, the eighth commandment forbids theft.
- He broke the eighth commandment when he took the money.
- The philosopher argued that the eighth commandment forms the basis of all property law.
- Violating the eighth commandment, even in a small way, erodes social trust.
- The sermon elaborated on how the eighth commandment's prohibition extends beyond simple theft to include fraud and exploitation.
- Secular legal systems often enshrine the principle underlying the eighth commandment without invoking its theological origins.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think '8' looks like two handcuffs linked together – the eighth commandment stops you from taking what isn't yours.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY IS A CODE OF LAW; DISHONESTY IS A BREACH OF DIVINE CONTRACT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'восьмая команда' (eighth team/military unit). The correct term is 'восьмая заповедь'.
- The word 'commandment' is a specific religious/juridical term, not a general order ('приказ').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'the eight commandment' (missing 'th').
- Incorrect: 'eighth commandments' (usually singular as a specific reference).
- Capitalisation error: 'Eighth Commandment' is standard when naming it.
Practice
Quiz
In an extended, secular sense, what does 'upholding the eighth commandment' most closely mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin is religious (the biblical Decalogue), the ethical principle it encapsulates—'thou shalt not steal'—is a cornerstone of secular legal systems and universal moral codes concerning property and honesty.
It is the eighth in the traditional numbering of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:2-17. Different Christian traditions (e.g., Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed) number the commandments slightly differently, but 'Thou shalt not steal' is almost universally the eighth in Protestant and Orthodox reckonings.
Yes, it can be used in a lightly humorous or ironic way to accuse someone of minor 'theft', like taking a colleague's lunch from the fridge: 'Someone's been forgetting the eighth commandment around here!'
They are largely synonymous in this context. 'Violating' can sound slightly more formal or legalistic, while 'breaking' is more common in general speech. Both imply a serious moral or religious transgression.