Deuteronomy 6:13 kjv
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Deuteronomy 6:13 nkjv
You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
Deuteronomy 6:13 niv
Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
Deuteronomy 6:13 esv
It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
Deuteronomy 6:13 nlt
You must fear the LORD your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.
Deuteronomy 6 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 20:3 | “You shall have no other gods before me.” | First Commandment: Exclusive Worship |
| Deut 10:12 | "What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God...?" | Summary of Covenant Requirements |
| Josh 24:14 | "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors served... and serve the Lord." | Commitment to Serve God Alone |
| 1 Sam 7:3 | "If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and devote yourselves to the Lord and serve him alone." | Turning from Idolatry |
| Matt 4:10 | "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." | Jesus' quotation in Temptation |
| Luke 4:8 | "It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’" | Jesus' quotation in Temptation (parallels Matt 4:10) |
| Ps 2:11 | Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. | Serving with Awe |
| Ps 115:11 | You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord—he is their help and their shield. | Fear linked to Trust |
| Ps 86:11 | Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. | Undivided Heart and Reverential Fear |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... | Fear as Foundation of Wisdom |
| Isa 45:23 | "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear." | God's Oath, Universal Allegiance |
| Jer 12:16 | "And if they will truly learn the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’—even as they taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be built up among my people." | Proper Swearing by God's Name |
| Rom 1:9 | "God, whom I serve with my whole spirit..." | Paul's Service to God |
| Rom 12:1 | "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." | Living Service as Worship |
| Heb 12:28 | "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..." | New Covenant Worship with Awe |
| Rev 14:7 | "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” | End-Times Call to Fear and Worship |
| Deut 5:7-9 | “You shall have no other gods before me. ... You shall not make for yourself an image..." | Against Idolatry (Expanded) |
| 1 Pet 2:17 | Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. | Respect and Fear of God |
| Isa 8:13 | The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. | Emphasis on God's Holiness and Fear |
| Eccl 12:13 | "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." | The Whole Duty of Man |
Deuteronomy 6 verses
Deuteronomy 6 13 Meaning
Deuteronomy 6:13 sets forth a fundamental command for Israel: to hold the Lord their God in profound, reverential awe, to render Him exclusive service and worship, and to invoke His name with solemn integrity in all oaths. This verse underpins the covenant relationship, demanding total allegiance to YHWH alone, rejecting any form of idolatry or dual loyalties. It encapsulates the core requirement for Israel's identity and fidelity to their one true God.
Deuteronomy 6 13 Context
Deuteronomy 6:13 stands within Moses’ second address to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This chapter, notably containing the Shema (Deut 6:4-9), outlines core principles for covenant faithfulness. The surrounding verses emphasize loving God wholeheartedly (Deut 6:5), diligently teaching His commands to future generations (Deut 6:6-9), and avoiding the temptation to forget Him in prosperity (Deut 6:10-12). Historically, this command serves as a foundational call to exclusive monotheism in a polytheistic Ancient Near Eastern world where peoples typically worshipped multiple deities and swore oaths by them. Moses underscores Israel’s unique covenant with YHWH, rejecting the prevailing cultural syncretism.
Deuteronomy 6 13 Word analysis
- Fear: The Hebrew word is יָרֵא (yare), meaning to fear, be afraid, reverence, or stand in awe. It denotes much more than terror; it is a profound, worshipful reverence that acknowledges God's absolute power, holiness, and sovereignty. This fear inspires obedience and devotion. It is the proper response of creation to its Creator, the subject to their sovereign Lord.
- the LORD your God: יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (YHWH Eloheykha). "YHWH" is the personal, covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful nature. "Eloheykha" (your God) emphasizes the exclusive and personal relationship Israel has with Him. This formulation identifies the specific, singular God to whom they owe ultimate loyalty, standing against the polytheistic inclinations of surrounding nations.
- serve him: תַּעֲבֹד (ta'avod). The root ʿābad can mean to work, labor, be enslaved, or to serve, especially in a cultic or religious sense (worship). It implies active, dedicated service—both in ritual and in daily life. This is not a passive sentiment but a commitment of one's entire being, time, and resources. The explicit inclusion of the pronoun אֹתוֹ (otho, "him," implying "only him") following the verb intensifies the demand for exclusive service, directly confronting the temptation to serve other gods. This is a direct polemic against the syncretistic practices of worshipping multiple deities prevalent in the ancient Near East.
- and take your oaths in his name: וּבִשְׁמוֹ תִּשָּׁבֵעַ (uvishmo tishshave'a). To swear or take an oath (root shābaʿ) by someone's name means to invoke that person as the guarantor of truth and sincerity. It places one under the authority and judgment of the invoked party. Swearing by YHWH's name affirms His unique reality, truthfulness, and power to judge. This act inherently acknowledges His supreme authority and forbids swearing by pagan deities (e.g., Josh 23:7). It implies a radical truthfulness in one's words, grounded in God's character.
- Fear... serve... take your oaths: This threefold command presents a holistic picture of total devotion. "Fear" is the internal attitude of reverence; "serve" is the external demonstration of allegiance through actions; "take oaths in his name" speaks to integrity in speech and public declaration of loyalty. It encompasses thought, action, and word.
- "The Lord your God" repeatedly: The consistent use of "YHWH Eloheykha" grounds all three commands in Israel's specific covenant relationship and the unique identity of their God, emphasizing His singular authority.
Deuteronomy 6 13 Bonus section
This verse forms a crucial theological bridge, connecting the deep-seated reverence for God (fear) to active obedience and public affirmation (serve him only and take oaths in his name). It combats spiritual complacency and syncretism, which were constant threats to Israel, by demanding a singularly focused allegiance. The command to swear by YHWH's name not only signifies loyalty but also recognizes His omnipresence and omnipotence as the one who knows all truth and will judge. This verse anticipates and forms the basis for New Testament teaching where Jesus affirms worshipping God alone (Matt 4:10) and emphasizes truthfulness that makes swearing unnecessary (Matt 5:33-37), reflecting a fulfillment of the spirit of the Law within a new covenant understanding.
Deuteronomy 6 13 Commentary
Deuteronomy 6:13 distills the essence of covenant loyalty into three inseparable commands. First, "fear the Lord your God" calls for a reverential awe that acknowledges His sovereign majesty and inherent holiness. This foundational attitude shapes one's entire life, moving beyond mere adherence to rules towards a deep respect for the Lawgiver. Second, "serve him" demands exclusive and active devotion. This service encompasses all aspects of life – worship, obedience, labor, and submission – rejecting any allegiance to false gods, cultural idols, or self. It is a comprehensive surrender of will and purpose to the Creator. Third, "and take your oaths in his name" signifies the supreme importance of truthfulness and God's ultimate authority. Swearing by God's name places one under divine scrutiny, emphasizing integrity in speech and acknowledging YHWH as the sole witness and judge. Together, these commands form a complete paradigm for true worship, defining a relationship characterized by reverence, exclusive devotion, and profound honesty. It sets Israel apart from nations with pantheons, establishing a radical monotheistic ethic for the Promised Land.Examples of practical usage:
- A Christian student choosing academic integrity over cheating, out of reverence for God's truth.
- A believer dedicating their professional skills and time to ministry or ethical work, seeing it as serving God.
- Someone whose "yes" means yes and "no" means no, their words carrying weight because they are under God's name, not relying on flippant or dishonest language.