Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV

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 6:7

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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 6:7

Deuteronomy 6:7. Thou shall teach them diligently Hebrew, whet, or sharpen them, so as that they may pierce deeply into their hearts, This metaphor signifies the manner of instructing them, that it is to be done diligently, earnestly, frequently, discreetly. To thy children They that love the Lord God themselves will do what they can to engage the affections of their children to him, and so preserve the entail of religion in their families from being cut off. Bishop Patrick well... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 6:1-25

The power of love (6:1-25)No matter how strong their determination to do right, the people would be unable to keep God’s law unless they first had a strong and genuine love for God himself. Love for him would give them the inner power to walk in his ways (6:1-5). As well as keeping God’s commandments themselves, they had to teach their children to do likewise. Their family life was to be guided by the knowledge of God’s law. Their house was to be known as a place where people loved God’s law... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Deuteronomy 6:7

teach. Hebrew "sharpen" or "whet" = rub them in by repetition. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Exhortation to teach the principles 6:6-9This section contains instructions for remembering and teaching these great truths to the following generations."In the psychology of the Old Testament the heart is not the center of emotional life and response but the seat of the intellect or rational side of humankind. To ’be upon the heart’ is to be in one’s constant, conscious reflection." [Note: Merrill, Deuteronomy, p. 167.] "The reason for this emphasis on the children is clear. Deuteronomy is... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Practical ExhortationsTo the repetition of the Decalogue Moses adds in the following chapters a practical exhortation to obedience founded on the special relation of Jehovah to Israel as their Redeemer (6-11). Deuteronomy 6 particularly insists upon the remembrance of God’s statutes and the training of the children in them.4, 5. Our Lord calls these words ’the first and great commandment.’ They express the highest truth and duty revealed to the Hebrew nation: the truth of God’s unity and... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Deuteronomy 6:7

(7) And thou shalt teach them diligently.—The same Jewish commentator remarks that there should be no hesitation in answering anything that a man might ask. Had this system of education been carried on from the first, the history of Israel would hare been very different from what it is. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Deuteronomy 6:1-25

The Message of the Book of Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 6:4 The book which lies before us is, in many ways, the most interesting and impressive of the Pentateuch. The message that this book brings us, coming as it does after the book of Numbers, is a most essential one. Numbers told us of the arrest in the deliverance of the nation; of the thirty-seven years of wandering sent as the punishment of unbelief. But it told us also how the people were brought back to obedience, and were made ready to go... read more