Deuteronomy 11 19

Deuteronomy 11:19 kjv

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 11:19 nkjv

You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 11:19 niv

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 11:19 esv

You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 11:19 nlt

Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Deuteronomy 11 verses

Deuteronomy 11 19 Meaning

Deuteronomy 11:19 instructs the Israelites to continuously and comprehensively integrate the teachings and commands of God into the fabric of their daily family life, ensuring these divine instructions are perpetually imparted to future generations. This command extends to all aspects of existence—whether at rest or in motion, from the moment one wakes until sleep—making the Word of God an ever-present, spoken reality within the home and beyond.

Deuteronomy 11 19 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 11 continues Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter functions as an exhortation to faithfulness, reiterating the terms of the covenant and the consequences of obedience versus disobedience. Verse 19 flows directly from the command in verse 18 to "lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul," binding them symbolically and actively to oneself. Moses emphasizes that mere intellectual assent is insufficient; God's commands must permeate every facet of life and be actively transmitted. This charge directly contrasts with the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, which lacked a singular, personal, and moral deity to worship and whose religious practices were often segmented from daily life, not forming a holistic ethical framework to be taught continuously. The verse highlights that the perpetuation of the covenant, and therefore Israel's success and dwelling in the land, depended crucially on generational faithfulness, deeply rooted in comprehensive teaching.

Deuteronomy 11 19 Word analysis

• And ye shall teach them (וְלִמַּדְתֶּם / wəlimmadtem): The verb lamad (H3925) means "to learn," but in the Hiphil stem as used here, it signifies "to cause to learn," hence "to teach" or "to instruct." This implies deliberate and systematic instruction, not accidental exposure. It denotes an active, parental responsibility. This is not about schooling, but discipleship in the home.
• them (אוֹתָם / ’ôṯām): Refers directly to "these My words" from the preceding verse (Deut 11:18). These "words" encompass the entire body of God's commands, statutes, and principles outlined in the Law (Torah).
• your children (אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶם / ’eṯ-bənêḵem): Specifically denotes the direct descendants, emphasizing the generational aspect of faith transmission. The responsibility rests primarily with the parents to nurture the spiritual development of the next generation within the family unit.
• speaking of them (וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם / wəḏibbartā bāām): Dabar (H1696) means "to speak" or "to declare." The Hebrew implies more than just formal lessons; it signifies active, ongoing conversation, discussion, and embedding of God's truth into casual daily dialogue. It suggests an open and natural communication about spiritual matters, making the divine word a normal part of family discourse.
• when thou sittest in thine house (בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ / bəšibtekā bəvêṯeḵā): This refers to times of rest, relaxation, or communal gathering within the home. It highlights that the instruction is to occur during intimate, everyday moments, not solely in formal settings. It captures moments of domestic routine.
• and when thou walkest by the way (וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ / uvəleḵteḵā vaḏereḵ): Refers to travel, work, and public life outside the home. This signifies that the teaching is not confined to the domestic sphere but extends to all environments, reflecting a holistic lifestyle where faith is visibly and verbally expressed even on the journey of life.
• when thou liest down (וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ / uvəšāḵvəḵā): This denotes the evening time, when going to sleep. It implies teaching at moments of transition, reflection, or before bedtime, making the last thoughts of the day centered on God's words.
• and when thou risest up (וּבְקוּמֶךָ / uvəqûmeḵā): This refers to the morning time, when waking up. It implies the teaching or meditation on God's words as the first thoughts and actions of the day, setting a spiritual foundation for the upcoming day's activities.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them": This phrase combines active parental instruction (teach) with ongoing, informal discussion (speaking). It reveals that the method of passing on faith is both structured (teaching) and integrated into the continuous flow of daily life (speaking). It is about creating a home environment where God's words are central and frequently discussed, rather than being confined to specific religious services or events. This emphasizes an educational ethos that is interwoven with familial life.
• "when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up": This quartet of temporal and spatial indicators is highly significant. It represents an all-encompassing mandate for the continuous, uninterrupted nature of this instruction. It means from dawn till dusk, within the privacy of the home, and amidst the public thoroughfares—every single moment and place is an opportunity for imparting God's truth. It depicts a life where faith is not compartmentalized but is the foundational worldview shaping every action, thought, and conversation, consistently accessible to children through their parents' lives and words. This constant immersion makes the commands intrinsic to their identity.

Deuteronomy 11 19 Bonus section

The emphasis in Deuteronomy 11:19 resonates deeply with the spirit of the Shema (Deut 6:4-9 and 11:13-21), particularly Deut 6:7, which also mandates teaching God's words diligently and continually. This command implies a deliberate counter-cultural approach to raising children in a world of varying beliefs and practices, firmly anchoring them in the covenant with YHWH. Scholars note that this ancient directive anticipates what modern pedagogy identifies as "lifelong learning" and "experiential education," where knowledge is acquired not just through formal instruction but through constant interaction and observation within one's environment. The verse subtly underscores that parental faithfulness to teaching is directly linked to the communal well-being and longevity in the land promised to Israel. The continuity across time ("when thou liest down, and when thou risest up") and space ("in thine house, and ... by the way") means there is no moment or place where God's truth is irrelevant, transforming mundane activities into opportunities for spiritual formation.

Deuteronomy 11 19 Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:19 is a profound call for pervasive and persistent spiritual instruction within the family, establishing the home as the primary crucible for faith formation. It elevates parents to the crucial role of chief educators, tasked with immersing their children in divine truth. This teaching is not merely intellectual; it's a holistic integration, transcending formal lessons and bleeding into the casual rhythms of daily life—mealtimes, journeys, and even the simple routines of bedtime and waking. The verse advocates for a faith that is lived and breathed, openly discussed and consistently reinforced, making God's words the natural and ever-present guiding principle of the household. It combats any compartmentalization of faith, urging instead a seamless, 24/7 engagement with divine principles, ensuring that children absorb covenant truths through the consistent example and conversation of their parents, preparing them for a life of obedient fellowship with God.

• Practical usage: This command encourages parents to integrate Bible stories into daily conversations, discuss ethical dilemmas from a biblical perspective during car rides, pray together at mealtimes and bedtimes, and exemplify faith through their actions at home and in public. It suggests that faith formation is less about structured curricula and more about consistent, organic spiritual living.