Deuteronomy 10:12
in Deuteronomy 10And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
KJV
And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
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This verse in Deuteronomy 10
Commentary
11 notes on this verseGod seeks from us and entreats us, not because he needs something that we have to give him but, after we have given it to him, he will account that very thing to us for our salvation.
This site's exposition
what doth the Lord thy God require of thee
on Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now turns the chapter from what God has done to what Israel owes, and the question is answered in a single sentence with five verbs: fear, walk, love, serve and keep. Micah 6:8 asks the same question in nearly the same words and answers it with three things, to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God, and the two answers repay being read side by side. Love sits in the middle of the list as a thing commanded, as at 6:5, and the last clause says the commandments are for thy good, so the demand and the benefit are named in one breath.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Decem Praeceptis, Collation 1 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The authority of the one commanding ought to move us to observe the commandments of God. He is of great authority, because by His munificent benevolence He saves us. "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you, except that you fear …
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
And in Deuteronomy it is said: "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you, except that you fear him and keep all his commandments and walk in his ways?" And Solomon says: "Fear God and observe his commandments: this is the …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
8 At that time the L ORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the L ORD , to stand before the L ORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. 9 Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the L ORD is his inheritance, according as the L ORD thy God promised him.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:85%@v8-9
), devote ourselves to his honour, put ourselves under his government, and lay out ourselves to advance all the interests of his kingdom among men. And we must be hearty and zealous in his service, engage and employ our inward man in his work, and what we do for him we must do cheerfully and with a good will.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
When we have received mercy from God it becomes us to enquire what returns we shall make to him. Consider what he requires, and you will find it is nothing but what is highly just and reasonable in itself and of unspeakable benefit and advantage to you. Let us see here what he does require, and what abundant reason there is why we should do what he requires.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Moses here resumes his address, and having made a passing allusion to the principal events in their history, concludes by exhorting them to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully.
Now, Israel, what doth the Lord - require of thee - An answer is immediately given. God requires, 1. That ye fear him as Jehovah your God; him who made, preserves, and governs you. 2. That ye walk in all his ways - that, having received his precepts, all of which are good and excellent, ye obey the whole; walking in God’s ways, not your own, nor in the ways of the people of the land.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
After these emphatic warnings against self-righteousness the principal topic is resumed from Deut. 6, and this division of the discourse is drawn to a conclusion in the next two chapters by a series of direct and positive exhortations to a careful fulfillment of the duties prescribed in the first two of the Ten “Words.” Deu 10:12 What doth the Lord thy God require ... - A noteworthy demand. God has in the Mosaic law positively commanded many things. However, these relate to external observances, which if need be can be enforced. But love and veneration cannot be enforced, even by God himself. They must be spontaneous. Hence, even under the law of ordinances where so much was peremptorily laid down, and omnipotence was ready to compel obedience, those sentiments, which are the spirit and life of the whole, have to be, as they here are, invited and solicited.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
This is connected with the expression [in the following verse] for thy good. He is stating: “He does not require anything of you for His sake, only for your sake,” similar in meaning to the verse, If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him? 243 Job:7.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
26 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעַתָּה֙ | veatah | and now | H6258 → | 433 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | O Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| מָ֚ה | mah | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה | yahweh | [is] Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ | ʾeloheikha | God your | H430 → | 2601 times |
| שֹׁאֵ֖ל | shoel | asking | H7592 → | 171 times |
| מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ | meimakh | from with <the> you | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | except | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לְ֠יִרְאָה | leyirah | to fear | H3372 → | 315 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְהוָ֨ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ | ʾeloheikha | God your | H430 → | 2601 times |
| לָלֶ֤כֶת | lalekhet | to walk | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| בְּכָל־ | bekhol | in all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| דְּרָכָיו֙ | derakhav | ways his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וּלְאַהֲבָ֣ה | uleahavah | and to love | H157 → | 211 times |
| אֹת֔וֹ | ʾoto | <obj.> him | H853 → | 10935 times |
| וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ | velaavod | and to serve | H5647 → | 288 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ | ʾeloheikha | God your | H430 → | 2601 times |
| בְּכָל־ | bekhol | with all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| לְבָבְךָ֖ | levavekha | heart your | H3824 → | 252 times |
| וּבְכָל־ | uvekhol- | and with all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ | nafshekha | being your | H5315 → | 754 times |
וְעַתָּה֙and now
veatahH6258 →433 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לO Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
מָ֚הwhat?
mahH4100 →752 times
יְהוָ֣ה[is] Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָGod your
ʾeloheikhaH430 →2601 times
שֹׁאֵ֖לasking
shoelH7592 →171 times
מֵעִמָּ֑ךְfrom with <the> you
meimakhH5973 →1050 times
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אִם־except
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לְ֠יִרְאָהto fear
leyirahH3372 →315 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יְהוָ֨הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָGod your
ʾeloheikhaH430 →2601 times
לָלֶ֤כֶתto walk
lalekhetH1980 →1546 times
בְּכָל־in all
bekholH3605 →5413 times
דְּרָכָיו֙ways his
derakhavH1870 →707 times
וּלְאַהֲבָ֣הand to love
uleahavahH157 →211 times
אֹת֔וֹ<obj.> him
ʾotoH853 →10935 times
וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙and to serve
velaavodH5647 →288 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יְהוָ֣הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָGod your
ʾeloheikhaH430 →2601 times
בְּכָל־with all
bekholH3605 →5413 times
לְבָבְךָ֖heart your
levavekhaH3824 →252 times
וּבְכָל־and with all
uvekhol-H3605 →5413 times
נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃being your
nafshekhaH5315 →754 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Micah 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 10:12–13
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your…
- Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
- Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.…
- Deuteronomy 10:12–13
Through
Deuteronomy 6:5And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
it leads to
- Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
- Matthew 22:37
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
- Mark 12:30
Through
Luke 10:27He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
it leads to
- Mark 12:30–31
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
- Matthew 22:37–40
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
- Mark 12:30–31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collationes de Decem Praeceptis, Collation 1; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 39.6.