Deuteronomy 6:4-9

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:7

And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children ,.... Care and diligence are to be used, and pains taken, to instruct children, as soon as they are capable, in the knowledge of God, and of his commandments; that they are to love him, fear him, serve, and worship him; this is to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Ephesians 6:4 , it may be rendered "thou shalt whet or sharpen them" F19 ושננ־תאם "et acues ea", Vatablus, Piscator. , the words or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:8

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand ,.... As a man ties anything to his hand for a token, that he may remember somewhat he is desirous of; though the Jews understand this literally, of binding a scroll of parchment, with this section and others written in it, upon their left hand, as the Targum of Jonathan here interprets the hand: and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes ; and which the same Targum interprets of the Tephilim, or phylacteries, which the Jews wear... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:9

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house, and on thy gates. To put them in mind of them when they went out and came in, that they might be careful to observe them; this the Jews take literally also, and write in a scroll of parchment this section with some passages; and, as the Targum of Jonathan here, fix them in three places, over against the bed chamber, upon the posts of the house, and on the gate at the right hand of it; and this is what they call the Mezuzah; and the... 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

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