Deuteronomy 6:1
וְזֹ֣את הַמִּצְוָ֗ה הַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם לְלַמֵּ֣ד אֶתְכֶ֑ם לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת בָּאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם עֹבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃
And these are the commands, statutes, and ordinances which YHWH, your God, is commanding to teach you to do in the land which you are passing through there to posses her.
Paraphrase: Now YHWH, your God, the Great King and Creator of heaven and earth, gave me this mandate. After you are finished taking this land and performing God’s judgments on the people of this land, He ordered me to show you how He expects you to live and how He expects you to worship in this land. He wants you to be His holy people, His treasured possession, and this means obeying His every command and rejoicing in His instructions.
Comments:
Deuteronomy 6:2
לְמַ֨עַן תִּירָ֜א אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ לִ֠שְׁמֹר אֶת־כָּל־חֻקֹּתָ֣יו וּמִצְוֺתָיו֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י מְצַוֶּךָ֒ אַתָּה֙ וּבִנְךָ֣ וּבֶן־בִּנְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ וּלְמַ֖עַן יַאֲרִכֻ֥ן יָמֶֽיךָ׃
In order that you might fear YHWH, your God, to hear all His statutes and His commands which I am commanding you, you and your sons and your son’s sons, all the days of your life, and in order that your days might be prolonged.
Paraphrase: God’s purpose in all this is that you might learn to respect Him and to live in awe of His majesty and in dread of His punishments. When you have this attitude (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7), you will make it the business of your life to learn all His commands. I am working hard to teach these to you; you, in turn, should carefully explain these to your children and grandchildren. Until the day you die, you must show to your family that the best life, the most satisfying life, the happiest life, and the most prosperous life is that life lived in the fear of God.
Comments:
Deuteronomy 6:3
וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֤ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר֙ יִיטַ֣ב לְךָ֔ וַאֲשֶ֥ר תִּרְבּ֖וּן מְאֹ֑ד כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ לָ֔ךְ אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָֽשׁ׃פ
And you will hear, oh Israel, and observe to do what is good for you and what will multiply you greatly just as YHWH, God of your fathers, spoke to you in the land flowing with milk and honey.
Paraphrase: Now listen carefully, oh My people, and pay close attention to these instructions so that you will know them and obey them and so flourish in the land which I am giving you. You will multiply greatly and became a great nation just as YHWH promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You will take this land and flourish in it; yes, it is a land dripping with milk and honey.
Comments:
Deuteronomy 6:4
שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה׀ אֶחָֽד׃
Hear, oh Israel, YHWH, our God, YHWH is one.
Paraphrase: This is your confession of faith; let it be repeated often with both heart and mouth: Hear, oh Israel, YHWH is our God; YHWH is supreme.
Comments:
Driver points out (p90) two possibilities for understanding the last clause YHWH is one.
- It can express the unity of YHWH “declaring that He is in His essence indivisible.”
- It can express His uniqueness as in Zechariah 14:9, Song of Solomon 6:9, Job 33:23. He is the God with whom no other “Elohim” can be compared. “The only Deity to whom the true attributes of the Godhead really belong.”
“The second interpretation gives the higher and fuller meaning to the term, and forms also a more adequate basis for the practical duty inculcated in v5 (for a God, who was “one,” but not at the same time “unique,” might not necessarily be a worthy object of human love). The first interpretation is not however excluded by it, for the unity of Jehovah is almost a necessary corollary of His uniqueness. The verse is thus a great declaration of Monotheism (in the sense both that there is only one God, and also that the God who exists is truly one).”
“The claim that a deity is one, or alone, in other ancient Near Eastern texts generally relates to the supremacy of their rule.” The IVP Bible Background Commentary on Deuteronomy 6:4.
Deuteronomy 6:5
וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃
and you will love YHWH, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Paraphrase: As a result of YHWH’s supremacy, you are to love Him as the highest good. Nothing can be compared with Him. So love Him with everything that you have. Let your devotion flow out to Him as the ultimate reality in your life. Love Him with your mind; and in all your thinking, submit yourself to His teaching. Let all your choices be aligned with His perfect will. Let your body and whatever health God gives you be laid out for Him and for His service.
Comments:
Deuteronomy 6:6
וְהָי֞וּ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם עַל־לְבָבֶֽךָ׃
And let these words which I am commanding you today be on your heart
Paraphrase: Now be careful to learn these words, every truth which I have taught you and every command which I have given, and let it sit in your mind. Turn them over and meditate on them. Think of the implications and applications of each.
Comments:
Deuteronomy 6:7
וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃
And sharpen them to your sons and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you go in the way and when you lie down and when you arise.
Paraphrase: Then, take all these words and sharpen them like arrows in your bow. Let them sink deep into the minds and hearts of your children. Shoot these arrows whenever you have an opportunity. Shoot them when you are sitting in your house and relaxing with your family. Shoot them when you are walking to town or running errands. Shoot them when you go to bed at night and when you wake up in the morning. Never miss an opportunity to shoot My teaching into the hearts of your children.
Comments:
Deuteronomy 6:8
וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ׃
And tie them for a sign on your hand and let it be for phylacteries between your eyes.
Paraphrase: Internalize this teaching; let it be the DNA of your person; let it be the north star of your life. Let your arms and hands move and act as directed by My word. Let your mind operate as if My teachings were bolted securely to your head.
Comments:
Deuteronomy 6:9
וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזוּזֹ֥ת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃ס
Deuteronomy 6:10
וְהָיָ֞ה כִּ֥י יְבִיאֲךָ֣׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֜רֶץ אֲשֶ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע לַאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם לְיִצְחָ֥ק וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֖ב לָ֣תֶת לָ֑ךְ עָרִ֛ים גְּדֹלֹ֥ת וְטֹבֹ֖ת אֲשֶ֥ר לֹא־בָנִֽיתָ׃
Deuteronomy 6:11
וּבָ֨תִּ֜ים מְלֵאִ֣ים כָּל־טוּב֮ אֲשֶ֣ר לֹא־מִלֵּאתָ֒ וּבֹרֹ֤ת חֲצוּבִים֙ אֲשֶ֣ר לֹא־חָצַ֔בְתָּ כְּרָמִ֥ים וְזֵיתִ֖ים אֲשֶ֣ר לֹא־נָטָ֑עְתָּ וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃
Deuteronomy 6:12
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶ֧ר הוֹצֽיאֲךָ֛ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים׃
Deuteronomy 6:13
אֶת־יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ תִּירָ֖א וְאֹת֣וֹ תַעֲבֹ֑ד וּבִשְׁמ֖וֹ תִּשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃
Deuteronomy 6:14
לֹ֣א תֵֽלְכ֔וּן אַחֲרֵ֖י אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים מֵאֱלֹהֵי֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶ֖ר סְבִיבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
Deuteronomy 6:15
כִּ֣י אֵ֥ל קַנָּ֛א יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ פֶּן־יֶ֠חֱרֶה אַף־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּ֔ךְ וְהִשְׁמִ֣ידְךָ֔ מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ס
Deuteronomy 6:16
לֹ֣א תְנַסּ֔וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶ֥ר נִסִּיתֶ֖ם בַּמַּסָּֽה׃
Deuteronomy 6:17
שָׁמ֣וֹר תִּשְׁמְר֔וּן אֶת־מִצְוֺ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְעֵדֹתָ֥יו וְחֻקָּ֖יו אֲשֶ֥ר צִוָּֽךְ׃
Deuteronomy 6:18
וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ הַיָּשָׁ֥ר וְהַטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ יִ֣יטַב לָ֔ךְ וּבָ֗אתָ וְיָֽרַשְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֔ה אֲשֶר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע יְהוָ֖ה לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
Deuteronomy 6:19
לַהֲדֹ֥ף אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ כַּאֲשֶ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ס
Deuteronomy 6:20
כִּֽי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ֥ בִנְךָ֛ מָחָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר מָ֣ה הָעֵדֹ֗ת וְהַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶ֥ר צִוָּ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ אֶתְכֶֽם׃
Deuteronomy 6:21
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ לְבִנְךָ֔ עֲבָדִ֛ים הָיִ֥ינוּ לְפַרְעֹ֖ה בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֧נוּ יְהוָ֛ה מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם בְּיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה׃
Deuteronomy 6:22
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן יְהוָ֡ה אוֹתֹ֣ת וּ֠מֹפְתִים גְּדֹלִ֨ים וְרָעִ֧ים׀ בְּמִצְרַ֛יִם בְּפַרְעֹ֥ה וּבְכָל־בֵּית֖וֹ לְעֵינֵֽינוּ׃
Deuteronomy 6:23
וְאוֹתָ֖נוּ הוֹצִ֣יא מִשָּׁ֑ם לְמַ֙עַן֙ הָבִ֣יא אֹתָ֔נוּ לָ֤תֶת לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃
Deuteronomy 6:24
וַיְצַוֵּ֣נוּ יְהוָ֗ה לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה לְיִרְאָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְט֥וֹב לָ֙נוּ֙ כָּל־הַיָּמִ֔ים לְחַיֹּתֵ֖נוּ כְּהַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
Deuteronomy 6:25
וּצְדָקָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑נוּ כִּֽי־נִשְׁמֹ֨ר לַעֲשׂ֜וֹת אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֗את לִפְנֵ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ כַּאֲשֶ֥ר צִוָּֽנוּ׃ס