Deuteronomy 6:4-7

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.^[a]

5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 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.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 In-Context

2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 4:35,39; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalms 86:10; Isaiah 44:6; Zechariah 14:9; Mark 12:29*; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6; James 2:19
• 2. Deuteronomy 11:1,22; Matthew 22:37*; Mark 12:30*; Luke 10:27*
• 3. 1 Samuel 12:24
• 4. Deuteronomy 4:29; Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5
• 5. ver 8; Deuteronomy 11:18; Deuteronomy 30:14; Deuteronomy 32:46; Psalms 26:2; Psalms 37:31; Psalms 40:8; Psalms 119:11; Proverbs 3:3; Isaiah 51:7; Jeremiah 17:1; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 40:4
• 6. Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 11:19; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "The " Lord"our God is one " Lord; or "The " Lord"is our God, the " Lord"is one" ; or "The " Lord"is our God, the " Lord"alone"