Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 75 of 107
What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A.The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor’s wealth or outward estate.
Which Bible passages support this answer?
The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 75. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.
- Proverbs 21:17
The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person; whoever loves wine and anointing oil will not be rich. (NET)
- Proverbs 23:20-21
20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat, 21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags. (NET)
- Proverbs 28:19
The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty. (NET)
- Ephesians 4:28
The one who steals must steal no longer; instead he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. (NET)
What does this answer mean?
The eighth commandment forbids whatever does, or may, unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor's wealth or outward estate. Stealing, cheating, damaging others' things, wasting what we have, and laziness can all break it. Each of these takes or spoils what God has given to someone.
What can we ask our children?
- Can we break this commandment without taking something?
- Is wasting things a kind of stealing?
- How can borrowing go wrong?
Can I print this question?
Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.
- Memory card for question 75 (fold-over card, question on the front)
- Copywork page for question 75 (trace, then copy)
- Memory cards for questions 71 to 80
- Copywork for questions 71 to 80
- All Westminster Shorter Catechism printables
Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.
Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.