Deuteronomy 6:6-16

6 And these words that I am commanding you {today} shall be on your heart.
7 And you shall recite them to your children, and you shall talk about them at [the time of] your living in your house and at [the time of] your going on the road and at [the time of] your lying down and at [the time of] your rising [up].
8 And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as an emblem between your eyes.
9 And you shall write them on the doorframe of your house and on your gates.
10 "And then it will happen [that] when Yahweh your God will bring you to the land that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to you large and fine cities that you did not build,
11 and houses full of all [sorts] of good things that you did not fill, and hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant, and {you have eaten your fill},
12 then take care for yourself, so that you [do] not forget Yahweh, who brought you out from the land of Egypt from the house of slavery.
13 "You shall fear Yahweh your God, and you shall serve him, and by his name you shall swear.
14 You shall not go after other gods from the gods of the peoples who [are] all around you,
15 for Yahweh your God [is] a jealous god in your midst, {so that the anger of Yahweh your God would be kindled}, and he would destroy you from the face of the earth.
16 You shall not put Yahweh your God to [the] test, as you tested [him] at Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:6-16 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.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Literally "the day"
  • [b]. Or "in"
  • [c]. Or "mind"
  • [d]. Or "fathers"
  • [e]. Hebrew "thing"
  • [f]. Literally "you have eaten and you are satisfied"
  • [g]. Literally "so that not/lest the nose of Yahweh your God would become hot"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.