Deuteronomy 6:13

13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

Deuteronomy 6:13 in Other Translations

13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

13 It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

13 You must fear the LORD your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.

13 Deeply respect God, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. Back up your promises with his name only.

13 Fear the Lord your God, worship Him, and take [your] oaths in His name.

Deuteronomy 6:13 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:13

Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him
Serve him through fear; not through slavish fear, a fear of hell and damnation; but through filial fear, a reverential affection for that God that had brought them out of a state of bondage into great and glorious liberty, out of Egypt into Canaan's land, out of a place of misery into a land of plenty; and therefore should fear the Lord and his goodness, and from such a fear of him serve him, in every part of worship, public and private, enjoined; this passage Christ refers to ( Matthew 4:10 )

and shalt swear by his name;
when they made a covenant with any, or were called to bear a testimony for the decision of any controversy which could not be otherwise finished; or whenever they took an oath on any account, which should never be taken rashly or on any trivial account, and much less falsely; it should be taken not in the name of any idol, or of any other but the true and living God; the Targum of Jonathan is,

``in the name of the Word of the Lord, in truth ye shall swear.''

Deuteronomy 6:13 In-Context

11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied,

12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;

15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 33:8; Psalms 34:9; Deuteronomy 10:20
• 2. Deuteronomy 13:4; 1 Samuel 7:3; Jeremiah 44:10; Matthew 4:10*; Luke 4:4*; Luke 4:8*
• 3. 1 Samuel 20:3
• 4. S Exodus 20:7; S Matthew 5:33