Deuteronomy 11:18
in Deuteronomy 11Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul; and ye shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
KJV
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 11
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Fix these words of mine in your hearts
on Deuteronomy 11:18-21
This repeats 6:6-9 within the same speech: the words in the heart, on the hand and forehead, and on doorposts and gates. Verse 18 is plural where 6:6 was singular, and verse 19 returns to the singular for the house.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We cannot expect good practices in the conversation, unless there be good thoughts, good affections, and good principles, in the heart. Let our eyes be fixed upon the word of God. "Bind these words for a sign upon your hand, which is always in view ( Isa. xlix.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
Let our eyes be fixed upon the word of God: Bind them for a sign upon your hand, which is always in view, and as frontlets between your eyes, which you cannot avoid the sight of. Let our tongues be employed about the word of God, especially with our children, who must be taught this, as far more needful than the rules of decency, or the calling they are to live by.
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart, and in your soul,.... Treasure up the laws of God delivered to them in their minds, retain them in their memories, and cherish a cordial affection for them; which would be an antidote against apostasy, idolatry, and other sins, Psa 119:11. and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes; of this and the two following verses; see Gill on Deu 6:7; see Gill on Deu 6:8; see Gill on Deu 6:9.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words - See Deu 6:4-8 (note), and Exo 13:9 (note).
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְשַׂמְתֶּם֙ | vesamtem | and you will put | H7760 → | 584 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| דְּבָרַ֣י | devarai | words my | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| אֵ֔לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| לְבַבְכֶ֖ם | levavkhem | heart your | H3824 → | 252 times |
| וְעַֽל־ | veal- | and on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם | nafshekhem | being your | H5315 → | 754 times |
| וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם | ukeshartem | and you will tie | H7194 → | |
| אֹתָ֤ם | ʾotam | <obj.> them | H853 → | 10935 times |
| לְאוֹת֙ | leot | for a sign | H226 → | 80 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יֶדְכֶ֔ם | yedkhem | hand your | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| וְהָי֥וּ | vehayu | and they will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לְטוֹטָפֹ֖ת | letotafot | for marks | H2903 → | |
| בֵּ֥ין | bein | between | H996 → | 407 times |
| עֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ | ʾeineikhem | eyes your | H5869 → | 887 times |
וְשַׂמְתֶּם֙and you will put
vesamtemH7760 →584 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
דְּבָרַ֣יwords my
devaraiH1697 →1440 times
אֵ֔לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
לְבַבְכֶ֖םheart your
levavkhemH3824 →252 times
וְעַֽל־and on
veal-H5921 →5755 times
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑םbeing your
nafshekhemH5315 →754 times
וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨םand you will tie
ukeshartemH7194 →
אֹתָ֤ם<obj.> them
ʾotamH853 →10935 times
לְאוֹת֙for a sign
leotH226 →80 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
יֶדְכֶ֔םhand your
yedkhemH3027 →1618 times
וְהָי֥וּand they will be
vehayuH1961 →3559 times
לְטוֹטָפֹ֖תfor marks
letotafotH2903 →
בֵּ֥יןbetween
beinH996 →407 times
עֵינֵיכֶֽם׃eyes your
ʾeineikhemH5869 →887 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
Psalms 119:11I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 37:31
The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
- Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
- Psalms 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”
- Jeremiah 15:16
Through
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
it leads to
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- Psalms 119:11
Where this verse is studied
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.