Exodus 20:12 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

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.