Deuteronomy6

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¹Now is the —the and the — the Lord your me to you, that you may them in the to you are going , to it,

² you may the Lord your , you and your and your , by his and his , I you, the of your , and your may be .

³ therefore, O , and be to , that it may with you, and that you may , the Lord, the of your , has you, in a with and .

⁴ , O : The Lord our , the Lord is .

⁵You shall the Lord your with your and with your and with your .

⁶And that I you shall be your .

⁷You shall teach them to your , and shall of them when you in your , and when you by the , and when you , and when you .

⁸You shall them as a your , and they shall be as your .

⁹You shall them the of your and on your .

¹⁰And the Lord your the he to your , to , to , and to , to you—with and that you did ,

¹¹and of you did , and you did , and and you did —and when you and are ,

¹²then you the Lord, the of , out the of .

¹³It is the Lord your you shall . Him you shall and by his you shall .

¹⁴You shall , the of the are you—

¹⁵ the Lord your in your is a — the of the Lord your be against you, and he you the of the .

¹⁶You shall the Lord your to the , you him at .

¹⁷You shall the of the Lord your , and his and his , he has you.

¹⁸And you shall what is and in the of the Lord, it may with you, and that you may and of the the Lord to give to your

¹⁹by your you, the Lord has .

²⁰When your you in time to , What is the of the and the and the the Lord our has you?

²¹then you shall to your , We were in . And the Lord with a .

²²And the Lord and , and , against and against and his , .

²³And he , he might and us the he to give to our .

²⁴And the Lord us to , to the Lord our , for our , that he might preserve us , as we are .

²⁵And it will be for us, we are to the Lord our , he has us.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 6.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: A persuasive to obedience. (1–3). An exhortation to obedience. (4, 5). Obedience taught. (6–16). General precepts, Instructions to be given to their children. (17–25).

vv1-3

In this and the like passages, the “commandments” seem to denote the moral law, the “statues” the ceremonial law, and the “judgments” the law by which the judges decided. Moses taught the people all that, and that only, which God commanded him to teach. Thus Christ's ministers are to teach his churches all he has commanded, neither more nor less, Mt 28:20. The fear of God in the heart will be the most powerful principle of obedience. It is highly desirable that not we only, but our children, and our children's children, may fear the Lord. Religion and righteousness advance and secure the prosperity of any people.

vv4-5

Here is a brief summary of religion, containing the first principles of faith and obedience. Jehovah our God is the only living and true God; he only is God, and he is but One God. Let us not desire to have any other. The three-fold mention of the Divine names, and the plural number of the word translated God, seem plainly to intimate a Trinity of persons, even in this express declaration of the unity of the Godhead. Happy those who have this one Lord for their God. It is better to have one fountain than a thousand cisterns; one all-sufficient God than a thousand insufficient friends. This is the first and great commandment of God's law, that we love him; and that we do all parts of our duty to him from a principle of love; My son, give me thine heart. We are to love God with all our heart, and soul, and might. That is, 1. With a sincere love; not in word and tongue only, but inwardly in truth. 2. With a strong love. He that is our All, must have our all, and none but he. 3. With a superlative love; we must love God above any creature whatever, and love nothing but what we love for him. 4. With an intelligent love. To love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, we must see good cause to love him. 5. With an entire love; he is ONE, our hearts must be united in his love. Oh that this love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts!

vv6-16

Here are means for maintaining and keeping up religion in our hearts and houses. 1. Meditation. God's words must be laid up in our hearts, that our thoughts may be daily employed about them. 2. The religious education of children. Often repeat these things to them. Be careful and exact in teaching thy children. Teach these truths to all who are any way under thy care. 3. Pious discourse. Thou shalt talk of these things with due reverence and seriousness, for the benefit not only of thy children, but of thy servants, thy friends and companions. Take all occasions to discourse with those about thee, not of matters of doubtful disputation, but of the plain truths and laws of God, and the things that belong to our peace. 4. Frequent reading of the word. God appointed them to write sentences of the law upon their walls, and in scrolls of parchment to be worn about their wrists. This seems to have been binding in the letter of it to the Jews, as it is to us in the intent of it; which is, that we should by all means make the word of God familiar to us; that we may have it ready to use upon all occasions, to restrain us from sin, and direct us in duty. We must never be ashamed to own our religion, nor to own ourselves under its check and government. Here is a caution not to forget God in a day of prosperity and plenty. When they came easily by the gift, they would be apt to grow secure, and unmindful of the Giver. Therefore be careful, when thou liest safe and soft, lest thou forget the Lord. When the world smiles, we are apt to make court to it, and expect our happiness in it, and so we forget Him who is our only portion and rest. There is need of great care and caution at such a time. Then beware; being warned of your danger, stand upon your guard. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God; neither by despairing of his power and goodness, while we keep in the way of our duty; nor by presuming upon it, when we turn aside out of that way.

Key Words

thisH2088Hebrew

זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

commandmentH4687Hebrew

מִצְוָה: a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)

statutesH2706Hebrew

חֹק: an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)

rulesH4941Hebrew

מִשְׁפָּט: properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style

thatH834Hebrew

אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.

GodH430Hebrew

אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

commandedH6680Hebrew

צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin

teachH3925Hebrew

לָמַד: properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive)

doH6213Hebrew

עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

landH776Hebrew

אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)