Deuteronomy 11 13

Deuteronomy 11:13 kjv

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy 11:13 nkjv

'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy 11:13 niv

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today?to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul?

Deuteronomy 11:13 esv

"And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy 11:13 nlt

"If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the LORD your God and serve him with all your heart and soul,

Deuteronomy 11 verses

Deuteronomy 11 13 Meaning

Deuteronomy 11:13 sets forth a profound condition for the Israelites' well-being and prosperity in the promised land: the reception of God's blessings is directly tied to their diligent and complete obedience. This obedience must not be merely external but flow from a wholehearted love for the LORD their God, encompassing their intellect, will, emotions, and entire life force. It emphasizes an active, engaged service that arises from an internal disposition of love and devotion.

Deuteronomy 11 13 Context

Deuteronomy 11 forms a critical bridge in Moses' farewell address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, immediately before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter, following the reiteration of the Ten Commandments and the foundational Shema (Deut 6:4-5), shifts from the general principles of the Law to its practical implications for life in Canaan. It emphasizes that unlike Egypt, which was watered by the Nile, the Promised Land's fertility depends entirely on God's provision of rain, contingent upon Israel's faithfulness. Verses 13-17 outline the blessings (rain, good harvest) that will result from obedience, contrasting them with the curses (famine, expulsion) for disobedience. This specific verse (Deut 11:13) serves as the opening condition for receiving the bountiful rain that would sustain them, firmly linking national prosperity and divine favor to individual and corporate devotion to God.

Deuteronomy 11 13 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass, if: This opening phrase signals a conditional promise or consequence. It introduces a solemn stipulation within the covenant. God's action (blessings) is directly dependent upon Israel's responsive action.

• ye shall hearken diligently (שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ - shamoa tishme'u): This is a powerful Hebrew construction using an infinitive absolute (shamoa) before the finite verb (tishme'u), literally "hearing you shall hear" or "surely hear." It signifies intense, earnest, and continuous attention; it means not just to hear with the ears but to hear with intent to obey. It implies an active, responsive obedience, where understanding leads to action. This "diligence" is fundamental to a covenant relationship.

• unto my commandments (מִצְוֺתָי - mitzvotai): Refers to the divine directives and statutes revealed by God. These are not human suggestions but divine requirements for a people in covenant with their Creator, defining righteous living and their relationship with Him.

• which I command you this day: Emphasizes the immediate relevance and binding nature of these instructions given by Moses. "This day" grounds the timeless commands in a present call for commitment from the new generation facing a new beginning.

• to love the LORD your God (לְאַהֲבָה אֶת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - le'ahavah et Adonai Eloheykhem): Love (ahav) here is not merely an emotion, but an active choice and deep commitment expressed through faithfulness and obedience. It's the primary motivation for keeping God's commandments. "The LORD your God" highlights the personal, covenantal relationship God desires, setting Himself apart from impersonal pagan deities.

• and to serve him (וּלְעָבְדוֹ - u'le'avdo): From the Hebrew root עָבַד (avad), meaning to work, to labor, to serve, or to worship. It implies active engagement, devoted action, and practical obedience arising from loyalty. Service here includes both the liturgical acts of worship and the daily living out of God's commands.

• with all your heart (בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶם - bekhol-levavkhem): The "heart" (levav) in Hebrew thought is not just the seat of emotion, but the center of the inner person: intellect, will, thoughts, and decisions. "All your heart" signifies complete inner sincerity, wholeheartedness, authenticity, and singleness of purpose without division or ulterior motives.

• and with all your soul (וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶם - u'bekhol-nafshekhem): The "soul" (nefesh) encompasses the entire vital being, one's life force, appetites, desires, and very existence. "All your soul" means dedicating one's whole life, vitality, passion, and complete person—body and spirit—without holding anything back. It signifies an absolute, life-encompassing dedication.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "hearken diligently unto my commandments... to love... and to serve him": This progression links active, responsive listening (obedience) with its inner motivation (love) and its outward manifestation (service). True obedience is fueled by love and expressed through dedicated action.
  • "love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul": This forms the essence of holistic devotion. It means a devotion that engages every facet of one's being—intellectually (heart), emotionally (heart), volitionally (heart), and existentially (soul). It's a call to an exclusive and complete commitment that permeates every aspect of life and identity, going far beyond mere ritual or external conformity. This echoes the comprehensive demands of the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:5.

Deuteronomy 11 13 Bonus section

This verse, alongside Deuteronomy 6:5, forms the basis for the Greatest Commandment affirmed by Jesus in the New Testament (Matt 22:37). This continuity highlights that God's desire for a wholehearted, internal, and loving relationship with humanity has remained constant throughout biblical history. It subtly contrasts the external ritual and fragmented loyalties common among surrounding pagan cultures, which often required specific sacrifices or acts, with Yahweh's demand for a comprehensive, inner devotion. This commitment defines true covenantal living and underscores that the law is not burdensome when it stems from a heart wholly devoted to God.

Deuteronomy 11 13 Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:13 stands as a pivotal statement articulating the core expectation of God for His covenant people. It moves beyond a simple call to obey and reveals how that obedience must be rendered: diligently, lovingly, and holistically. The doubling of the verb "hearken" underscores an intentional, persistent, and active listening that transforms into compliance. This obedience is not borne of fear or external coercion, but motivated by a genuine and encompassing love for the LORD. This love, in turn, is manifested through active "service." The descriptors "with all your heart and with all your soul" emphasize the absolute and unreserved nature of this devotion. It demands a sincerity that touches the deepest core of one's intellect, will, and affections, alongside the total surrender of one's very life and existence. God seeks not merely compliant actions, but a devoted being. This verse establishes the fundamental principle that true religion involves an integrated unity of inner affection and outer action, the state of the heart directly impacting the quality of service, and sets the stage for all future interactions between God and His people in the promised land.