Related reading: Pesach, Matzah and Maror for Printing, PDF and Explanation and Parashat Acharei Mot: Summary, Dvar Torah and Quiz.
Looking for a printable Ten Commandments page for Shavuot, a classroom lesson or family learning? This page is ready to use: a clear explanation, an accessible table of the commandments, when they are read from the Torah, a kids' version, a printable activity FAQ and a Shavuot quiz that connects the Giving of the Torah with everyday life.
Editorial note: This page includes original explanations, educational summaries and activities. If the full biblical verses are added later, they should be inserted only from a public-domain or properly licensed source, with separate review of vocalization, cantillation, verse division, Divine-name handling and differences between Exodus and Deuteronomy.
At a Glance: What the Printable Page Includes
What Are the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments, also known in Hebrew as Aseret HaDibrot, are the statements given to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. They appear twice in the Torah: in Exodus, in Parashat Yitro, and in Deuteronomy, in Parashat Va'etchanan. Jewish tradition sees them as a central expression of the covenant between Israel and God: faith, Shabbat, honoring parents, moral responsibility, truth and respect for others.
The Ten Commandments are not the whole Torah and do not replace the 613 commandments. They are a concentrated gateway into major ideas: relationship with the Creator, sanctified time, family responsibility, protection of life, loyalty, honesty, truth and learning to respect what belongs to someone else.
Printable Ten Commandments Table
This table is intended for study, printing and discussion. It does not replace the full biblical text for Torah reading.
| # | Commandment in brief | Simple explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I am the Lord your God | Faith begins with the One who brought Israel out of Egypt. |
| 2 | You shall have no other gods | Do not turn any power, object or idea into a substitute for faith. |
| 3 | Do not take God's name in vain | Treat sacred speech and God's name with care and responsibility. |
| 4 | Remember the Sabbath day | Make space in time for rest, holiness, family and remembering Creation. |
| 5 | Honor your father and mother | Recognize gratitude and build a home of respect. |
| 6 | Do not murder | Protect the sanctity of life and the value of every person. |
| 7 | Do not commit adultery | Guard loyalty, boundaries and dignity within family relationships. |
| 8 | Do not steal | Respect another person's property, time and rights. |
| 9 | Do not bear false witness | Do not lie about another person or harm them through unreliable speech. |
| 10 | Do not covet | Learn to guide desire, be grateful for what you have and not seek to take what belongs to another. |
When Are the Ten Commandments Read?
The Ten Commandments are read publicly in three main contexts:
- On Shavuot - in the Torah reading for the festival of the Giving of the Torah.
- In Parashat Yitro - in Exodus, where the Sinai revelation is described.
- In Parashat Va'etchanan - in Deuteronomy, as part of Moses' address to Israel.
In many synagogues, people stand while the Ten Commandments are read, but customs vary. A printable page should phrase this carefully: "In many communities, people stand during the reading, according to local custom."
Why Print the Ten Commandments Before Shavuot?
Shavuot is the festival of the Giving of the Torah, so families, teachers and activity leaders often look for a simple way to bring children and adults into the story of Sinai. A good printable page is not only a list of ten items. It is a conversation starter:
- What does it mean to receive the Torah?
- How does an ancient commandment meet modern life?
- What is the difference between commandments between a person and God and commandments between people?
- Which commandment is easiest for me to understand, and which asks more of me?
What Should the PDF Include?
A strong Ten Commandments PDF should be short, clean and easy to use at a holiday table, in class or in synagogue.
Recommended Structure
- Title: "The Ten Commandments for Shavuot - Explanation, Activity and Quiz."
- Short opening: what the Ten Commandments are and why they are studied on Shavuot.
- Brief table of the Ten Commandments.
- Two-tablet framing: relationship with God and responsibility toward others.
- Kids' version in simple language.
- Personal activity: "The commandment I am taking with me."
- Short quiz with answers for the facilitator.
- Source note if the full biblical text is included.
The Two Tablets: A Simple Educational Frame
The commandments can be presented as two complementary directions. The earlier commandments focus mainly on relationship with God, the sanctity of Shabbat and honoring parents. The later commandments emphasize responsibility toward other people: life, loyalty, property, truth and desire. Together they teach that a life of Torah is not only in the synagogue and not only in social ethics. It connects heaven and earth.
Kids' Version: How to Explain the Ten Commandments
You can explain it to children this way:
The Ten Commandments are ten important teachings the people of Israel received at Mount Sinai. They teach us to believe, respect, keep Shabbat, tell the truth, not hurt others and not take what is not ours. They are not only laws. They are a way to live with a good heart, responsibility and respect.
Questions for Kids
- Which commandment reminds us to thank and respect parents?
- Which commandment is connected to telling the truth?
- Why is it important not to take something that belongs to someone else?
- How can Shabbat help a family pause and breathe?
- Which commandment would you like to remember this week?
Printable Activity: "My Commandment for This Week"
Create a page with three parts:
- I choose a commandment - the child or participant chooses one commandment from the table.
- What it means in my own words - a short sentence explaining the commandment personally.
- One small action for the coming week - tell the truth even when it is hard, honor a parent, take care of a friend's belongings, or put away the phone during family time on Shabbat.
The activity works well for the Shavuot table, homeroom, youth groups and family quizzes.
Shavuot Quiz: Questions About the Ten Commandments
- On which festival are the Ten Commandments read as part of the festival Torah reading?
- In which two Torah portions do the Ten Commandments appear?
- Which commandment is about honoring parents?
- Which commandment is about telling the truth about another person?
- Which commandment is connected to Shabbat?
- What is the simple difference between "do not steal" and "do not covet"?
- Why are the Ten Commandments especially fitting for a Shavuot quiz?
- Which value is central in the later commandments: faith, responsibility toward others or harvest?
Answers for the Facilitator
- Shavuot.
- Yitro and Va'etchanan.
- Honor your father and mother.
- Do not bear false witness against your fellow.
- Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
- "Do not steal" concerns the action of taking what is not mine; "do not covet" concerns the desire to possess what belongs to another.
- Shavuot is the festival of the Giving of the Torah, and the Ten Commandments are a central doorway into discussing Torah.
- Responsibility toward others.
FAQ
Can I print the Ten Commandments from this page?
Yes. You can print the table, explanations, activity and quiz. If you want to add the full biblical verses, especially with vocalization, cantillation or translation, use a public-domain or licensed source and review the text and permissions.
Do the Ten Commandments appear only once in the Torah?
No. They appear in Exodus in Parashat Yitro and in Deuteronomy in Parashat Va'etchanan. There are some differences between the two appearances, including the well-known "remember" in Exodus and "keep" in Deuteronomy regarding Shabbat.
When are the Ten Commandments read in synagogue?
They are read on Shavuot, in Parashat Yitro and in Parashat Va'etchanan. Each community has its own customs regarding standing, melody and emphasis during the reading.
Are the Ten Commandments suitable for children?
Yes, when they are explained in sensitive, age-appropriate language. With younger children, focus on values: faith, gratitude to parents, Shabbat, truth, respect for property and respect for human life.
Are the Ten Commandments all of the mitzvot?
No. Jewish tradition includes 613 commandments, and the Ten Commandments do not replace them. They express core foundations within the world of Torah and mitzvot.
Should a children's worksheet include the Divine name?
For worksheets that will be printed and handled by children, follow the site's or community's policy. Educational phrasing such as "God," "Hashem" or "the Divine name" may be preferable, especially for pages that could be discarded.
Quiz Idea for the Site
Quiz name: "The Ten Commandments - A Shavuot Family Quiz."
Suggested structure:
- 5 easy identification questions: which commandment is about Shabbat, parents, truth or property.
- 5 understanding questions: the difference between action, speech and desire.
- 5 deeper questions: how an ancient commandment can become one good action this week.
- Final open question: "Which commandment would you turn into a family mission until Shabbat?"
Source and License Note
This page is original and ready for publication. It was written after reviewing background sources on the Ten Commandments, their appearances in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, their reading on Shavuot and in Parashat Yitro and Parashat Va'etchanan, and the practical holiday-page structure used by the Western Wall site. Do not copy full biblical text, translations, commentary, vocalization, cantillation, illustrations or PDF design from an external source without a license review.
Sources reviewed for editorial grounding: the Western Wall site for holiday-page structure and tone; Sefaria for Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5; Chabad for general explanation of the Ten Commandments, the two Torah appearances and the public reading on Shavuot, Yitro and Va'etchanan.