Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 "Hear, O Israel: ¹The LORD our God, the LORD is one.^[a]

5 You ²shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

6 And ³these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

7 ⁴You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

8 ⁵You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

9 ⁶You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 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 6:4-9 In-Context

2 that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

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

5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

10 "And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you--with great and good cities that you did not build,

11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant--and when you eat and are full,

Cross References

• 1. Cited Mark 12:29; [Isaiah 42:8; Zechariah 14:9; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6]
• 2. Cited Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27; [2 Kings 23:25]
• 3. Deuteronomy 11:18; Deuteronomy 32:46; Psalms 37:31; Isaiah 51:7; Jeremiah 31:33
• 4. See Deuteronomy 4:9
• 5. Deuteronomy 11:18; Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 6:21; Proverbs 7:3; See Exodus 13:9
• 6. Deuteronomy 11:20; [Isaiah 57:8]

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