In the Torah, keeping this commandment was associated with individual benefit[7] and with the ability of the nation of Israel to remain in the land to which God was leading them.[8][9] Dishonouring parents by striking or cursing them was punishable by death[10] and so the clause "so that you may live long" could be interpreted as "so that you are not put to death". In the Talmud, the commandment to honour one's human parents is compared to honoring God.[11][12] According to the prophet Malachi, God makes the analogy himself: