Deuteronomy 6:5-15

5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 1
6 Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. 2
7 Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.
8 Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder.
9 Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.
10 "Just as the Lord your God promised your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he will give you a land with large and prosperous cities which you did not build. 3
11 The houses will be full of good things which you did not put in them, and there will be wells that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant. When the Lord brings you into this land and you have all you want to eat,
12 make certain that you do not forget the Lord who rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves.
13 Honor the Lord your God, worship only him, and make your promises in his name alone. 4
14 Do not worship other gods, any of the gods of the peoples around you.
15 If you do worship other gods, the Lord's anger will come against you like fire and will destroy you completely, because the Lord your God, who is present with you, tolerates no rivals.

Deuteronomy 6:5-15 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 4

  • 1. 6.5Matthew 22.37;Mark 12.30;Luke 10.27.
  • 2. 6.6-9Deuteronomy 11.18-20.
  • 3. 6.10 aGenesis 12.7; bGenesis 26.3; cGenesis 28.13.
  • 4. 6.13Matthew 4.10;Luke 4.8.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.