Deuteronomy 6

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 6

1¶ Now these [are] the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do [them] in the land whither ye go to possess it:

2That thou mightest fear the LORD 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.

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

4¶ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:

5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

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

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

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

10And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

11And houses full of all good [things], which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

12[Then] beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

13Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

14Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which [are] round about you;

15(For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

16Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted [him] in Massah.

17¶ Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

18And thou shalt do [that which is] right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,

19To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.

20[And] when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [mean] the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?

21Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:

22And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:

23And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.

24And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as [it is] at this day.

25And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Deuteronomy 6 instructs Israel to diligently obey God's commandments upon entering the promised land, emphasizing that this obedience ensures their well-being and prolonged life. Central to this is the command to love the LORD God with all heart, soul, and might, and to teach these precepts to future generations. The chapter warns against forgetting God amidst prosperity and stresses that faithful adherence to His laws is essential for possessing the land.

Medium Summary

Deuteronomy 6 opens by urging Israel to diligently observe God's commandments, statutes, and judgments in the land they are about to inherit, promising well-being and prolonged life as a result. The pivotal declaration, known as the Shema, proclaims the LORD as one God and commands Israel to love Him completely with all their heart, soul, and might. These divine words are to be deeply internalized, taught diligently to children, and constantly remembered through various daily practices. The chapter issues a strong warning against forgetting the LORD, their deliverer from Egyptian bondage, especially when they settle into a land of unearned abundance. It strictly forbids following other gods, highlighting the LORD's jealous nature and the severe consequences of idolatry. Furthermore, Israel is cautioned against tempting God and is reminded that diligent obedience to His commands is crucial for their prosperity and for successfully possessing the good land.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy 6 commences with a foundational charge to Israel to diligently observe the commandments, statutes, and judgments given by the LORD their God. This obedience is presented as crucial for their fear of God, for the prolongation of their days, and for their prosperity and increase in the land flowing with milk and honey. The chapter then introduces the pivotal declaration, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD," followed by the paramount command to love the LORD their God with their entire being—heart, soul, and might. These divine words are not merely to be heard but internalized, dwelling within their hearts. A significant emphasis is placed on intergenerational transmission, instructing parents to diligently teach these precepts to their children, engaging in constant discourse about them throughout daily life. To further aid remembrance, the commands are to be bound as signs on their hands, as frontlets between their eyes, and written upon their house posts and gates. A strong warning is issued concerning their future prosperity in the promised land, cautioning them against forgetting the LORD, who delivered them from Egyptian bondage, once they enjoy the unearned abundance of cities, houses, wells, vineyards, and olive trees. They are commanded to fear the LORD, serve Him, and swear by His name, explicitly forbidding the worship of other gods, as the LORD is a jealous God whose anger can lead to destruction. The chapter also reminds them not to tempt the LORD, recalling the incident at Massah. Finally, it reiterates the necessity of diligently keeping all of God's commandments, testimonies, and statutes, emphasizing that doing what is right and good in the LORD's sight will ensure their well-being and enable them to fully possess the land and cast out their enemies. The chapter concludes by providing a framework for future generations, instructing parents to explain that these laws are a remembrance of God's mighty deliverance from Egypt and are given for Israel's perpetual good and righteousness.

Core Concepts

  • The ShemaThis foundational declaration proclaims the singular nature of God, stating "The LORD our God is one LORD," and commands Israel to love Him completely with all their heart, soul, and might.
  • Teaching the LawParents are commanded to diligently teach God's words to their children, integrating these discussions into daily life and ensuring the transmission of divine precepts across generations.
  • Avoiding ForgetfulnessThe chapter warns Israel against forgetting the LORD, their deliverer, especially after they enter and enjoy the prosperity of the promised land, urging constant remembrance through various physical and verbal means.
  • Exclusive WorshipIsrael is strictly commanded not to follow other gods, as the LORD their God is a jealous God who demands exclusive worship and will not tolerate idolatry.
  • Blessings of ObedienceThe chapter repeatedly links Israel's diligent obedience to God's commandments with tangible blessings, including prolonged life, prosperity, and the successful possession of the promised land.
  • Deliverance as FoundationFuture generations are to be taught that the commandments are rooted in God's mighty deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt, serving as a constant reminder of His power and their identity.