Deuteronomy 5:29 kjv
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Deuteronomy 5:29 nkjv
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!
Deuteronomy 5:29 niv
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Deuteronomy 5:29 esv
Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
Deuteronomy 5:29 nlt
Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.
Deuteronomy 5 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:40 | "Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments... that it may go well with you and with your children after you..." | Blessings extended to children |
| Deut 6:2-3 | "that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes... that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you..." | Fear, obedience, and longevity |
| Deut 10:12-13 | "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God... to keep His commandments and His statutes..." | God's requirements are for their good |
| Deut 28:1-2 | "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God... that all these blessings shall come upon you..." | Obedience brings blessings |
| Ex 20:6 | "but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." | God's mercy linked to obedience for generations |
| Lev 26:3-13 | "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and perform them, then I will give you rain..." | Comprehensive blessings for obedience |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..." | God values obedience over ritual |
| Jer 7:23 | "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.'" | Direct command for obedience and well-being |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make... I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts..." | New Covenant: Law in the heart |
| Ez 36:26-27 | "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you... and cause you to walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them." | Divine provision for heart of obedience |
| Ps 1:1-3 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly... but his delight is in the law of the Lord... and whatever he does shall prosper." | Prosperity of those who delight in God's law |
| Ps 111:10 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments." | Fear of the Lord and understanding |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction." | Fear of the Lord as source of knowledge |
| Prov 3:1-2 | "My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands... For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you." | Heart obedience for longevity and peace |
| Isa 29:13 | "Therefore the Lord said: 'Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths... and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me...'" | Critique of lip-service, contrasts heart |
| Matt 15:8-9 | " 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.'" | Jesus reiterates warning against hypocrisy |
| Matt 23:37 | " 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together... but you were not willing!' " | Jesus' lament over unwillingness |
| John 14:15 | "If you love Me, keep My commandments." | Love for Christ expressed through obedience |
| Rom 2:29 | "but circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter..." | True righteousness is heart transformation |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts..." | New Covenant confirms heart transformation |
| Jas 1:22-25 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only... But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." | Importance of doing, not just hearing |
| 1 John 5:3 | "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." | Keeping commands is evidence of loving God |
Deuteronomy 5 verses
Deuteronomy 5 29 Meaning
Deuteronomy 5:29 captures a poignant expression of God's profound longing for His people to possess an internal disposition of heartfelt reverence and unwavering obedience to His divine decrees. It reveals that the Lord's deepest desire is not merely for outward conformity to laws, but for an inward transformation of the heart that would consistently choose to fear Him and diligently keep His commandments. This sincere obedience is presented as the foundational path to enduring well-being, both for the generation present and for all their descendants eternally.
Deuteronomy 5 29 Context
Deuteronomy is Moses' valedictory discourse to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, just prior to their entry into the promised land. Chapter 5 specifically re-presents the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai (Horeb), recounting the covenant God made with His people. Following the awesome and terrifying manifestation of God's presence, the people of Israel express fear and ask Moses to mediate God's voice, saying "Go near and hear all that the LORD our God may say, and tell us all that the LORD our God may say to you; and we will hear and do it" (Deut 5:27). Verse 28 states that God heard their good words. Verse 29, then, immediately follows, capturing God's divine longing and desire for their spoken words of commitment to truly originate from the depths of their hearts and be sustained throughout their lives. It underscores that while their initial response was verbally correct, God knew their hearts were often fickle and that true devotion was necessary for sustained blessings.
Deuteronomy 5 29 Word analysis
- Oh that they had: This is a direct translation of the Hebrew phrase Mi yittēn (מִי יִתֵּן). It is an interjection expressing a strong desire, a yearning, or even a lament. It's often translated as "would that," "if only," or "Oh, that." It highlights God's deep emotion and wish for His people. It's not a command but a divine sigh or wish.
- such a heart: The Hebrew word is lēḇāḇ (לֵבָב), meaning "heart." In Hebrew thought, the "heart" is far more than just the seat of emotions; it is the center of the inner being, encompassing intellect, will, reason, moral choice, character, and spiritual life. This signifies that God desires an internal disposition and transformation, not mere external performance or temporary feeling. It represents the very core of one's being and intentions.
- in them: This emphasizes the internal and inherent nature of the desired change. It’s a call for the "heart" to truly possess and embody the desired qualities.
- that they would fear Me: The Hebrew word for "fear" is yārēʾ (יָרֵא). This "fear" is not primarily terror or fright, but rather a profound reverence, awe, and respect for God's holiness, power, and authority. It includes obedience stemming from this reverence. It is the proper posture of creature before Creator, leading to worship and careful adherence to His will.
- and keep: The Hebrew verb is shāmar (שָׁמַר), meaning "to guard," "observe," "take heed," or "preserve." It implies not just occasional obedience but diligent, watchful adherence, guarding the commandments as a precious trust.
- all My commandments: This signifies comprehensive and unconditional obedience. It implies not picking and choosing which commands to follow but embracing the entirety of God's revealed will.
- always: The Hebrew phrase is kol ha-yāmîm (כָּל הַיָּמִים), literally "all the days." This indicates constancy, permanence, and consistency. God desires a lifetime of obedience, not just episodic or situational compliance.
- so that it may be well: The Hebrew is ṭōḇ lāhem (טוֹב לָהֶם), meaning "good for them" or "it would be well with them." This points to the beneficial and blessed outcome of obedience. God's commands are not burdensome restrictions but pathways to flourishing.
- with them and with their children: This highlights the intergenerational nature of God's covenant blessings. The well-being of the parents' obedience extends to their descendants, emphasizing the lasting impact of faithfulness.
- forever!: The Hebrew word lāʿad (לָעַד), means "forever," "for always," "eternally," or "into futurity." This reinforces the perpetual and unending nature of the blessings when coupled with continuous, heartfelt obedience.
Word-Group analysis
- "Oh that they had such a heart in them": This phrase encapsulates God's yearning for inner transformation. It's a divine lament acknowledging the gap between human capacity for promise-making and the consistent inclination of the heart. It signifies that true obedience must stem from a deep, internal desire, not merely external pressure or fear.
- "that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always": This group identifies the dual aspects of genuine piety: reverential awe (fear) as the foundation, which then translates into consistent, comprehensive obedience. "Always" highlights the requirement for enduring faithfulness over time, demonstrating a lifelong commitment.
- "so that it may be well with them and with their children forever!": This phrase details the promised outcomes of this heartfelt obedience. It shows God's intention is the well-being and prosperity of His people, extending beyond a single generation and continuing indefinitely. This illustrates the benevolent nature of God's commands—they are for humanity's good.
Deuteronomy 5 29 Bonus section
This verse foreshadows a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament: the tension between God's desire for a true heart of devotion and Israel's frequent failure to maintain it, often resorting to superficial religiosity. It subtly sets the stage for the prophetic calls for a "new heart" (e.g., Ezekiel 36:26-27, Jeremiah 31:33) which would overcome the inherent human inclination towards unfaithfulness. It illustrates the pre-New Covenant limitation of the Law – while righteous and good, it could not fundamentally change the human heart's capacity for sustained obedience. God’s desire for “such a heart” implies that the existing heart was insufficient. This divine wish implicitly acknowledges the need for an internal transformation that only God Himself could ultimately provide, pointing toward the ultimate fulfillment in the Holy Spirit empowering believers in the New Covenant to walk in His statutes. The Mi yittēn expression is profound; it’s God saying, "If only I could bestow upon them that consistent heart of obedience." This highlights His longing more than His frustration.
Deuteronomy 5 29 Commentary
Deuteronomy 5:29 stands as a pivotal verse, expressing God's heartfelt desire for His people's genuine and sustained devotion. It reveals that the Lord's focus is not just on outward acts of obedience, but on the inner disposition—the "heart." He yearns for a consistent, reverential fear of Him, leading to lifelong adherence to His commands. This inner condition is paramount because it alone can produce the type of lasting obedience that leads to true well-being and blessings, extending from the present generation to all future descendants. It's a divine sigh of aspiration for humanity to align their wills perfectly with His. The verse also underscores that God's laws are ultimately for humanity's good and flourishing.
For example, a person might give a donation (external act), but Deut 5:29 implies God is concerned with why they gave it: was it from a genuine heart of generosity and obedience, or merely for outward show? Similarly, attending religious services is an outward action, but God desires that the heart present genuinely fears Him and seeks to live out His commands "always" in every area of life.