Deuteronomychapter 6

25 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 288 cross-references outward and receives 309 — heaviest partner: Deuteronomy.

Chapter summary

The Shema. ‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might’ (6:4–5). These words shall be in thine heart; teach them diligently unto thy children; talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, when thou risest up. Bind them as a sign upon thine hand, as frontlets between thine eyes; write them on the posts and gates. Beware lest in the land of milk and honey thou forget the LORD. When thy son asks thee, ‘what mean the testimonies?’ — tell him the story. Jesus cites 6:5 as the first great commandment (Mark 12:29–30).

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Deuteronomy overview for the book's full setting.

1 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it;

2 that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:

5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;

7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.