Deuteronomy 6:4 kjv
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deuteronomy 6:4 nkjv
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
Deuteronomy 6:4 niv
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4 esv
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4 nlt
"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
Deuteronomy 6 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:35 | To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him. | Uniqueness of Yahweh |
| Deut 4:39 | Know therefore today... that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. | Yahweh's sole deity, universal dominion |
| Deut 32:39 | See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god besides Me... | God's uniqueness and power |
| 1 Sam 2:2 | There is none holy like the LORD, for there is no one besides You; there is no rock like our God. | Uniqueness and steadfastness of God |
| Isa 43:10 | Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. | God as the first and last, sole God |
| Isa 44:6 | I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no God. | Absolute singularity of God |
| Isa 44:8 | Is there a God besides Me? There is no Rock; I know not one. | No other true deity |
| Isa 45:5 | I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God. | God's absolute uniqueness, sole provider |
| Isa 45:18 | I am the LORD, and there is no other. | Affirmation of Yahweh as the only God |
| Isa 45:21 | There is no other god besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides Me. | God as the only righteous Savior |
| Isa 45:22 | Look to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. | Universal call to salvation by the one God |
| Psa 86:10 | For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God. | God's singular greatness |
| Zech 14:9 | And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and His name one. | Future reign and unity of God |
| Mark 12:29-30 | Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God...'" | Jesus affirms the Shema as central command |
| Rom 3:30 | Since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. | God's oneness implies universal salvation |
| 1 Cor 8:4-6 | ...there is no God but one... yet for us there is but one God, the Father... and one Lord, Jesus Christ... | Rejection of idols, affirmation of one God |
| Eph 4:5-6 | one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. | Unity of the Spirit built upon one God |
| Jas 2:19 | You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! | Belief in one God is true but not enough |
| John 17:3 | And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. | Eternal life in knowing the one true God |
| Gal 3:20 | Now a mediator implies more than one, but God is one. | God's singular purpose in salvation history |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. | God's singular nature and unique mediation |
| Jude 1:25 | to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. | God as the sole Savior, recipient of all glory |
Deuteronomy 6 verses
Deuteronomy 6 4 Meaning
Deuteronomy 6:4, famously known as the "Shema," declares the singular, unified nature of God, proclaiming exclusive worship and loyalty to Him. It is a foundational statement of absolute monotheism, emphasizing that the Lord, the covenant God of Israel, is not merely a god but the only and unique God. This verse calls Israel to attentive obedience and undivided devotion to this one God.
Deuteronomy 6 4 Context
Deuteronomy 6:4 is the preamble to what Jewish tradition calls the "Shema," which encompasses verses 4-9 of chapter 6. This declaration serves as the bedrock for the ensuing commandments, particularly the command to love God with all one's being (Deut 6:5). The broader context of Deuteronomy is Moses's final address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab before they enter the Promised Land. It is a covenant renewal document, reminding the new generation of the Laws given at Sinai, emphasizing their distinct identity and unique relationship with Yahweh.
In a world teeming with polytheistic beliefs and idolatry common in the Ancient Near East, this declaration was a radical polemic against surrounding cultures that worshipped pantheons of gods, many associated with natural forces or specific regions. The Shema definitively asserted that Israel's God was utterly singular and supreme, not one among many, nor merely a tribal deity. It demanded an exclusive, undivided loyalty, shaping the very core of Israelite faith and practice.
Deuteronomy 6 4 Word analysis
- Hear (שְׁמַע - Shema): This is more than merely auditory reception. It implies an attentive listening that leads to understanding, internalizing, and, most critically, obeying. It demands not just intellectual assent but a response of the will and action.
- O Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): Refers to the collective covenant people, all generations descended from Jacob, the entire nation called to be God's special possession.
- The LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh/YHWH): The tetragrammaton, the unique, covenantal, personal Name of God revealed to Moses (Exod 3:14-15). It signifies God's self-existence, eternal presence, and His faithful, covenant-keeping character.
- our God (אֱלֹהֵינוּ - Eloheinu): This combines "Elohim," a plural noun (referring to God's fullness or majesty, not multiple gods), with the suffix "our." "Elohim" designates God as the powerful Creator, Sovereign, and Judge of the universe. The "our" emphasizes His particular covenant relationship with Israel, denoting intimate possession and belonging.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh/YHWH): This repetition of Yahweh intensifies the declaration, reinforcing the specific, covenantal identity of the God who is "one." It affirms His identity as truly and absolutely unique.
- is one (אֶחָד - Echad): This pivotal word defines the singularity of God. While it denotes numerical unity, it importantly also signifies absolute uniqueness, indivisibility, and essential unity. It means God is unique in His being, unified in His character, undivided in His purpose, and demands singular worship. It is not "solitary" (Yachid, which implies isolated singleness), but echad can describe a composite or complex unity (e.g., "one cluster" of grapes, "one flesh" in marriage). This allows for a divine unity that, while declaring absolute monotheism, later revelation could expand upon, such as in the New Testament understanding of God existing as a unity of Persons within the one Godhead, without contradicting this fundamental declaration of singularity.
Deuteronomy 6 4 Bonus section
The Shema (Deut 6:4) holds a prime position in Jewish liturgy, recited daily as a central prayer, emphasizing its role in shaping Jewish identity and reinforcing core beliefs. It serves as a personal affirmation of faith for every believer and a public declaration of God's sovereignty. The command to "Hear" (Shema) underscores that faith is not merely intellectual ascent but an active response—a concept deeply embedded throughout the biblical narrative, where "hearing and obeying" are often inseparable. The numerical value of Echad (one) in Hebrew has traditionally been explored to signify the wholeness and completeness of God. This foundational truth establishes God's unique authority over all of creation and sets the context for humanity's relationship with Him.
Deuteronomy 6 4 Commentary
Deuteronomy 6:4 is the epitome of biblical monotheism and the theological center of Israel's faith. It presents God not as one among many deities but as the singular, uniquely existing, and only true God. The declaration is a direct challenge to the polytheistic environment of the Ancient Near East, asserting that Yahweh alone is Elohim. The emphasis on God being "one" is profound, demanding undivided worship and absolute loyalty. This is the cornerstone upon which all subsequent commands and covenant relationship are built; if God is one, then He alone is worthy of all affection, devotion, and obedience. It sets the stage for the Great Commandment in the following verse, linking the absolute oneness of God to the absolute demand for comprehensive love for Him. This divine unity undergirds Israel's call to holiness and separation, underscoring that their exclusive relationship with the one God defines their very identity. Practically, the Shema is a constant reminder that life for God's people must be centered solely on Him, fostering unity and purpose in worship and daily living.