Ten Utterances
The Zohar teaches that the Ten Commandments parallel the ten utterances of creation
1. The 1st commandment states: “I am the Lord your God...” Regarding creation, the verse states: “There shall be light, and there was light.” From the verse “God is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear?” we learn that faith in the Holy One, blessed be He, is also called “light.”
2. The 2nd commandment states: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Regarding creation, the verse states: “There shall be a firmament between the waters, and it shall divide between water and water.” “There shall be a firmament,” refers to the Jewish people who are part of God Above, for they are attached to that plane which is called shemayim (firmament). “Waters” refers to Torah. The Jews are called upon to separate the Source of Living Water” from the broken wells of idols.
3. The 3rd commandment states: “Do not take the name of God in vain,”. The third utterance of creation states: “The waters below the firmament shall be gathered into one place.” Do not cause a separation in the unity of the waters (referring to the Shekinah) by uttering a false oath.
4. The 4th commandment states: “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” The fourth utterance states: “The earth shall sprout vegetation.” The earth become fertile on the Sabbath, when the bride (the Sabbath) unites with the King (God).
5. The 5th commandment states: “Honor your father and mother.” The fifth utterance states: “There shall be luminaries in the sky ...” The sun and moon refers to the father and mother. The sun/father also refers to God as the source of all light. The moon also refers to Israel.
6. The 6th commandment states: “Do not murder.” And the sixth utterance states: “The waters shall teem with living creatures.” Do not kill a man, who is also called “a living creature.” And do not be like fish, the larger of which swallows the smaller.
7. The 7th commandment states, “Do not commit adultery.” The seventh utterance states: “The earth shall bring forth living creatures... in their species.” A man must not approach a woman who is not his soulmate. A woman must not bear children from one who is not her “species,” i.e. her soulmate.
8. The 8th commandment states: “Do not steal.” The eighth utterance states: “I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the earth.” i.e. that which I have given you is yours. Do not steal what belongs to someone else.
9. The 9th commandment states: “Do not testify as a false witness.” The ninth utterance states: “We shall make man with Our image, of Our likeness.” This means do not testify falsely against one who bears the divine image.
10. The 10th commandment states, “Do not be envious of your neighbor’s wife.” The tenth utterance states: “It is not good that man is alone. I will make him a helper to match him.” This refers to a person’s soulmate who matches him or her perfectly. Therefore, “Do not be envious of your neighbor’s wife...”