Deuteronomy 11:18-22

18 1"You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and 2you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
20 3You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
21 4that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, 5as long as the heavens are above the earth.
22 For if 6you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the LORD your God, walking in all his ways, and 7holding fast to him,

Deuteronomy 11:18-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 11

In this chapter, the exhortation to love the Lord, and keep his commands, is repeated and urged again and again from various considerations; as not only from the chastisement of Pharaoh and the wicked Egyptians, but of such Israelites who offended the Lord, and transgressed his law, De 12:1-7, from the goodness and excellency of the land they were going to inherit, De 11:8-11, from the blessing of rain that would come upon it, and be productive of all good things for man and beast, in case of obedience, and a restraint of it in case of disobedience, De 11:12-17, from the continuance of them and their offspring in the land, should they be careful to observe the commands themselves, and teach them their children, De 11:18-21, and from the extensiveness of their conquests and dominions, De 11:22-25 and from the different issue and effects of their conduct and behaviour, a blessing upon them if obedient, but a curse if disobedient, De 11:26-28 and the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to pronounce the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal; the situation of which places is described when they should come into the land of Canaan, of which they are assured, De 11:29-32.

Cross References 7

  • 1. See Deuteronomy 6:6
  • 2. See Deuteronomy 6:8
  • 3. Deuteronomy 6:9
  • 4. See Deuteronomy 4:40
  • 5. Psalms 89:29
  • 6. Deuteronomy 6:17
  • 7. See Deuteronomy 10:20
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.