Deuteronomy 6 1

Deuteronomy 6:1 kjv

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

Deuteronomy 6:1 nkjv

"Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess,

Deuteronomy 6:1 niv

These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,

Deuteronomy 6:1 esv

"Now this is the commandment ? the statutes and the rules ? that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,

Deuteronomy 6:1 nlt

"These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy,

Deuteronomy 6 verses

Deuteronomy 6 1 Meaning

Deuteronomy 6:1 initiates the main body of Moses' second discourse, laying forth the foundational expectations for Israel in the Promised Land. It declares that the complete corpus of divine instruction—comprising the overarching commandment, specific statutes, and practical rules—was transmitted by the LORD God through Moses with the explicit purpose of being taught to and faithfully performed by the Israelites. The ultimate goal is their sustained presence and flourishing in the land they are about to enter and inherit. This verse firmly establishes obedience to God's revealed will as the non-negotiable prerequisite for enjoying the blessings of the covenant in the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 6 1 Context

Deuteronomy 6:1 stands as a pivotal introductory verse following Moses' extensive recapitulation of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5 and a historical review of God's faithfulness. This new section (Deuteronomy 6-11) is dedicated to elaborating on the core principles of the covenant and their practical application. Historically, Israel is poised on the plains of Moab, on the brink of entering Canaan. This is a new generation, having grown up in the wilderness, for whom Moses is reiterating, explaining, and re-emphasizing God's Law before their significant transition. The verse, therefore, sets the stage for the crucial Shema (Deut 6:4-9), stressing the singularity of God, the totality of love for Him, and the diligent transmission of His commands, all within the framework of inheriting the land. It aims to instill in this generation the lessons of the previous one's failures, linking their success and long-term security in the Promised Land directly to faithful adherence to God's every word. It also serves as an implicit counter-narrative to the idolatrous and unjust practices prevalent in the surrounding Canaanite cultures, establishing a distinct, righteous way of life based on divine revelation.

Deuteronomy 6 1 Word analysis

• Now (וְזֹאת - ve-zot): A conjunction "and" coupled with "this," indicating a transition and introducing something highly significant and connected to what precedes. It signals a shift from review to direct instruction concerning the path forward.
• this (זֹאת - zot): Refers collectively to the entirety of the divine commands Moses is about to impart, signifying a comprehensive body of instruction, not merely a single point.
• is the commandment (הַמִּצְוָה - ha-mitzvah): The definite article points to a specific, singular command, often interpreted as the overarching instruction to love and obey God, or collectively representing the entire Torah. It signifies the primary directive.
• the statutes (הַחֻקִּים - ha-chukkim): Plural form. These are divine decrees, ordinances, or established practices, often religious or ceremonial, given by divine authority, which may not always have a human-perceivable rational basis (e.g., dietary laws, ritual purity). They reflect God's unchanging nature.
• and the rules (וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים - ve-ha-mishpatim): Plural form. These are judgments, civil laws, ethical guidelines, or judicial precedents governing social and moral conduct between individuals and within the community. They establish justice and order.
• that the LORD your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - Yahweh Eloheikhem): Combines God's covenant name (YHWH, signifying His faithful presence and redemptive work) with the general term for God (Elohim, signifying His power and sovereignty). "Your God" emphasizes the exclusive, personal, and covenantal relationship with Israel.
• commanded me (צִוַּנִי - tzivvani): From the verb tsavah ("to command, appoint, charge"). This highlights God's absolute authority and direct transmission of these laws through Moses as His chosen mediator, making them divine imperatives.
• to teach you (לְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם - le-lammed etkhem): From lamad ("to learn," in hiphil stem, "to teach"). Moses' specific divine mandate was not just to receive, but actively and intentionally to instruct the Israelites, ensuring proper understanding and transmission of the law.
• that you may do them (לַעֲשֹׁותָם - la'asotam): The clear and direct purpose of the instruction is not mere intellectual assent or knowledge, but practical obedience and faithful execution of God's commands in daily life. This is the ultimate goal.
• in the land (בָּאָרֶץ - ba'aretz): Specifically refers to Canaan, the Promised Land. This ties the Law directly to their geographical destiny and continued dwelling there.
• where you are going over (אֶתֶּם עֹבְרִים - attem ovrim): Emphasizes the imminence of their entry into Canaan, signifying the transition from wilderness wanderings to established life in their inheritance.
• to possess it (לְרִשְׁתָּהּ - le-rishtah): From yarash ("to take possession, inherit"). This stresses the purpose of their entry: to take hold of and occupy the land as their inheritance, a right that is implicitly conditioned upon their obedience.

Words-group analysis:

• "this is the commandment, the statutes, and the rules": This tripartite phrasing (often appearing in various orders in Deuteronomy) represents the complete, multifaceted, and authoritative revelation of God's will to Israel. It encompasses moral duties, civil jurisprudence, and cultic practices, covering all aspects of covenant life.
• "that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you": This phrase highlights the divine origin and authoritative transmission of the law. It underscores that these are not human conventions but God's specific and intentional instructions, communicated through His chosen prophet, Moses, for the purpose of being thoroughly learned and internalized by the people.
• "that you may do them in the land where you are going over to possess it": This crucial purpose clause connects obedience directly to the realization of God's covenant promises regarding the land. It makes it clear that the land is not unconditionally given but its ongoing possession and blessing depend entirely on the consistent and faithful practice of God's commands within its boundaries.

Deuteronomy 6 1 Bonus section

• The structure of Deuteronomy often mirrors ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, with this verse functioning similarly to the stipulations section, detailing the obligations of the vassal (Israel) to their Great King (YHWH).
• The inclusion of "the LORD your God" consistently emphasizes the exclusive and covenantal nature of this relationship, contrasting with the polytheistic views of surrounding nations who served multiple gods with often conflicting laws.
• The emphasis on "teaching" (le-lammed) suggests that the transmission of the Law was not a one-time event but an ongoing process, crucial for the formation of subsequent generations. This forms the basis for familial instruction, as seen in Deut 6:7.
• This verse acts as a bridge from the general call to remembrance and the Decalogue (Deuteronomy 1-5) to the specific outworkings and motivations for covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 6-11).

Deuteronomy 6 1 Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:1 functions as an emphatic programmatic statement, introducing the substance of God's Law which is to govern Israel's life in the Promised Land. Moses' re-emphasis of "the commandment, the statutes, and the rules" underlines the comprehensive nature of divine expectation, spanning religious, moral, and civil spheres. The purpose of this divine instruction is not abstract understanding, but tangible obedience ("that you may do them"). This immediate linkage between learning God's word and actively performing it within the context of inhabiting the land reveals a core Deuteronomic principle: covenant blessings, especially secure possession and flourishing in Canaan, are inextricably tied to ongoing and diligent faithfulness to YHWH's commands. The very inheritance promised to Abraham is contingent upon the descendant's righteous living. This verse sets the stage for the imperative to love God wholeheartedly, as the motive for truly keeping His instructions.