Exodus 20:12

Honour thy father and thy mother— This is the first commandment of the second table, and therefore called by St. Paul the first with promise, Ephesians 6:2. A promise, which, in the letter and its primary sense, manifestly refers to the land of Canaan, which the Lord was about to give the Hebrews; and which promise was so far peculiar to them, since to them, as a nation, the promise seems particularly given. See note on Exodus 20:5. Visiting the iniquity, &c. But St. Paul gives it a more extensive sense, applying it to long life upon the earth; following the words of Deuteronomy 5:16 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. The word rendered honour, כבד kabed, signifies "to give all kind of weight and importance; to esteem and treat as weighty and honourable; as worthy of all duty and respect." All nations and people have agreed, with just reason, to hold filial duty in the highest degree of veneration.