Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:4-16

Here is, I. A brief summary of religion, containing the first principles of faith and obedience, Deut. 6:4, 5. These two verses the Jews reckon one of the choicest portions of scripture: they write it in their phylacteries, and think themselves not only obliged to say it at least twice every day, but very happy in being so obliged, having this saying among them, Blessed are we, who every morning and evening say, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. But more blessed are we if we duly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear, O Israel ,.... These are the words of Moses, stirring up the people to an attention to what he was about to say of this great and momentous article, the unity of God, to prevent their going into polytheism and idolatry. From one of the words here used, the Jews call this section Kiriathshema, which they oblige themselves to read twice a day, morning and evening F14 Mist. Beracot, c. 1. sect. 1, 2. ; the last letter of the first word in this verse, "Shema", meaning "hear", and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:5

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God ,.... Which is the first and chief commandment in the law, the sum and substance of the first table of it; and includes in it, or at least has connected with it, knowledge of God, esteem of him, delight in him, faith and trust in him, fear and worship of him, and obedience to him, which when right springs from it. God is to be loved because of the perfections of his nature, and the works of his hand, of nature, providence, and grace; and because of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:6

And these words, which I command thee this day ,.... To hearken to, observe, and take notice of, that God is one, and is to be loved in the strongest manner that possibly can be: shall be in thine heart ; on the table of the heart, as the Targum of Jonathan; see 2 Corinthians 3:3 , be cordially received, have a place in the affections of the heart, and be retained in mind and memory. 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

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

John Calvin

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

Verse 6 6.And these words. In these four next verses God again commands (as before) the study of His Law. And first, indeed, He would have it implanted in their hearts, lest forgetfulness of it should ever steal over them; and by the word “heart” He designates the memory and other faculties of the mind; as though He had said that this was so great a treasure, that there was good cause why they should hide it in their hearts, or so fix this doctrine deeply in their minds that it should never... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 6:4

These words form the beginning of what is termed the “Shema” (“Hear”) in the Jewish Services, and belong to the daily morning and evening office. They may be called “the creed of the Jews.”This weighty text contains far more than a mere declaration of the unity of God as against polytheism; or of the sole authority of the revelation that He had made to Israel as against other pretended manifestations of His will and attributes. It asserts that the Lord God of Israel is absolutely God, and none... read more

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