Deuteronomy 6:1-8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:1

Now these are the commandments, etc. - See the difference between commandments, statutes, judgments, etc., pointed out, Leviticus 26:15 ; (note). Do them - That is, live in the continual practice of them; for by this they were to be distinguished from all the nations of the world, and all these were to be in force till the Son of God should come. Whither ye go. עברים oberim , whither ye pass over, referring to the river Jordan, across which they must pass to get into Canaan. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:2

That thou mightest fear the Lord - Respect his sovereign authority as a lawgiver, and ever feel thyself bound to obey him. No man can walk either conscientiously or safely who has not the fear of God continually before his eyes. When this is gone, more than a guardian angel is fled. Thou, and thy son, and thy son's son - Through all thy successive generations. Whoever fears God will endeavor to bring up his children in the way of righteousness, that they also may fear God, and that pure... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:3

Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it - Literally, Ye shall hear, O Israel, and thou shalt keep to do them. God is to be heard; no obligation without law to found it on, and no law in religion but from God. The commandment must be understood in order to be obeyed. It must be observed - attentively considered, in order to be understood. And, It must be performed, that the end for which it was given may be accomplished, viz., that God may be glorified, and that it may be well... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear, O Israel - אחד יהוה אלהינו יהוה ישראל שמע shema Yisrael , Yehovah Eloheinu , Yehovah achad . These words may be variously rendered into English; but almost all possible verbal varieties in the translation (and there can be none other) amount to the same sense: "Israel, hear! Jehovah, our God, is one Jehovah;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah alone;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah who is one;" or, "Jehovah, who is our God, is the one... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:5

Thou shalt love the Lord, etc. - Here we see the truth of that word of the apostle, 1 Timothy 1:5 ; : Now the End of the Commandment is Love out of a pure heart, etc. See the whole of the doctrine contained in this verse explained on Matthew 22:36-40 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:6

Shall be in thine heart - For where else can love be? If it be not in the heart, it exists not. And if these words be not in the heart - if they are not esteemed, prized, and received as a high and most glorious privilege, what hope is there that this love shall ever reign there? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:7

Thou shalt teach them diligently - שננתם shinnantam , from שנן shanan , to repeat, iterate, or do a thing again and again; hence to whet or sharpen any instrument, which is done by reiterated friction or grinding. We see here the spirit of this Divine injunction. God's testimonies must be taught to our children, and the utmost diligence must be used to make them understand them. This is a most difficult task; and it requires much patience, much prudence, much judgment, and much piety... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:8

Thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thins hand - Is not this an allusion to an ancient and general custom observed in almost every part of the world? When a person wishes to remember a thing of importance, and is afraid to trust to the common operations of memory, he ties a knot on some part of his clothes, or a cord on his hand or finger, or places something out of its usual order, and in view, that his memory may be whetted to recollection, and his eye affect his heart. God, who knows how... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:1

Verse 1 1.Now these are the commandments. In these three verses he repeats what we have already seen in many previous passages; since God deals so liberally with the Israelites, they would be too perverse, unless such great kindness should allure them to love the law. We must remember too what I have already touched on, that, although I have postponed to another place the promises, whereby Moses urged the people to endeavor to keep the Law, still I have designedly put before my exposition of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:4

Verse 4 4.Hear, O Israel. When Moses proclaims that God is One, the statement is not confined to His sole essence, which is incomprehensible, but must be also understood of His power and glory, which had been manifested to the people; as though he had said, that they would be guilty of rebellion unless they abode in the One God, who had laid them under such obligations to Himself. Therefore he not only calls him Jehovah, but at the same time infers that He is the God of that people whom he... read more

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