Deuteronomy 6:12-22

12 1then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
13 It is 2the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and 3by his name you shall swear.
14 You shall not 4go after other gods, 5the gods of the peoples who are around you--
15 for 6the LORD your God in your midst 7is a jealous God--8lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
16 9"You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, 10as you tested him at Massah.
17 You shall 11diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
18 12And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers
19 13by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has promised.
20 14"When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?'
21 then you shall say to your son, 15'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
22 And 16the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 6

In this chapter Moses proceeds on in his exhortations to the people of Israel, to attend to the commandments of God, that it might be well with them, De 6:1-3, and begins with a principal and fundamental article of religion, which deserved their first and chief regard, the unity of God, and the love of him, De 6:4,5, which they were carefully to instinct their children in, and ever to be mindful of themselves, De 6:6-9, and when they were come into the land of Canaan, and into a plentiful enjoyment of all good things in it, they are exhorted to be careful not to forget the Lord, their kind benefactor; but to fear him, serve him, and not go after other gods, since he is jealous of his honour and worship, De 6:10-15 and not to tempt him, as they had done, but diligently keep, his commandments, that it might be well with them in that land, De 6:16-19, and when their children inquired the reason and meaning of such testimonies, statutes, and judgments, that were enjoined them, they were to give them the history of their case in Egypt, their deliverance from thence, the wonders that were wrought for them, and the introduction of them into the good land of Canaan; and to let them know that these commands were some of them in commemoration of these blessings; and by these they were laid under obligation to regard them all, and the rather, since they were not only for the glory of God, but for their own good, De 6:20-25.

Cross References 16

  • 1. [Proverbs 30:8, 9]
  • 2. Cited Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8
  • 3. Deuteronomy 10:20; Joshua 2:12; Psalms 63:11; Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 65:16; Jeremiah 12:16
  • 4. Deuteronomy 8:19; Deuteronomy 11:16, 28; Deuteronomy 13:2, 3; Deuteronomy 28:14; Jeremiah 25:6
  • 5. Deuteronomy 13:7
  • 6. Deuteronomy 7:21
  • 7. See Exodus 20:5
  • 8. Deuteronomy 7:4; Deuteronomy 11:17
  • 9. Cited Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12
  • 10. Deuteronomy 9:22; Deuteronomy 33:8; Psalms 95:8; [1 Corinthians 10:9]; See Exodus 17:2-7
  • 11. Deuteronomy 11:22; Psalms 119:4
  • 12. See Deuteronomy 12:25
  • 13. Exodus 23:28-30; Numbers 33:52, 53
  • 14. Exodus 12:26; Exodus 13:14
  • 15. [Exodus 20:2]
  • 16. Psalms 135:9; See Deuteronomy 4:34
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.