Deuteronomy 6:8 kjv
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deuteronomy 6:8 nkjv
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deuteronomy 6:8 niv
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Deuteronomy 6:8 esv
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deuteronomy 6:8 nlt
Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
Deuteronomy 6 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 13:9 | It shall be to you as a sign on your hand...a memorial between your eyes... | Command for visible reminder of the Exodus |
| Ex 13:16 | It shall be as a mark on your hand...as frontlets between your eyes... | Reinforces previous command, same phrasing |
| Deut 11:18 | You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. | Reiteration of the command to bind the word |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it... | Command to continually meditate on the Law |
| Ps 1:2 | but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Joy and continuous focus on God's law |
| Ps 119:11 | I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. | Internalizing God's word to avoid sin |
| Prov 3:3 | Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Internalizing virtues like binding/writing |
| Prov 6:21 | Bind them always on your heart; tie them around your neck. | Similar metaphor for keeping instruction |
| Prov 7:3 | Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Application of wisdom to actions and core being |
| Jer 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | Prophecy of internalizing the new covenant law |
| Eze 9:4 | ...and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it. | Mark on forehead as a sign of distinction |
| Mt 7:24 | Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. | Hearing and doing God's word |
| Mt 22:37-38 | He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the great and first commandment. | Love God with totality of being, echoing Deut 6:5 |
| Mk 12:30 | And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. | Similar to Mt 22:37, loving God wholly |
| Lk 10:27 | He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” | Echoing the Shema's comprehensive love |
| Rom 12:2 | Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind... | Transforming the mind through God's will |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. | Letting Christ's word permeate richly |
| Heb 8:10 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts... | New covenant fulfilled internalizing God's law |
| Heb 10:16 | “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” | Restatement of New Covenant law on hearts/minds |
| Ja 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Emphasis on living out the word |
| Rev 7:3 | "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." | Mark on forehead as ownership/protection |
| Rev 14:1 | Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. | Divine ownership displayed on forehead |
Deuteronomy 6 verses
Deuteronomy 6 8 Meaning
Deuteronomy 6:8 commands the people of Israel to deeply internalize God's commandments ("these words") and make them ever-present in their lives. Spiritually, it signifies that God's word should guide every action (hand) and dominate every thought and perception (between your eyes/forehead). It emphasizes that faith is not just a private belief, but a visible and active commitment influencing all aspects of one's conduct and intellect. The instruction conveys the imperative for constant remembrance and visible allegiance to Yahweh and His divine precepts, making the Torah a pervasive and defining characteristic of one's existence and identity. While understood literally by some traditions, leading to practices like wearing phylacteries, its primary and broader meaning encourages a profound, all-encompassing embodiment of God's truth.
Deuteronomy 6 8 Context
Deuteronomy 6:8 is an integral part of the "Shema," a foundational declaration of faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Immediately following the singular command to love Yahweh with all one's heart, soul, and might (Deut 6:5), and the instruction to keep "these words" (the commandments, especially the Shema itself) upon one's heart (Deut 6:6), this verse outlines specific actions to ensure perpetual remembrance and transmission of these truths. It extends the internalizing of God's word (Deut 6:6) to concrete, visible practices: teaching children (Deut 6:7), and publicly displaying the commandments (Deut 6:8-9). Historically, this passage speaks to Israel as they prepare to enter the promised land, emphasizing that their identity and success hinge upon total devotion to Yahweh and His Law, contrasting with the polytheistic practices and memory-loss associated with the nations around them. The covenantal context is vital; these are the stipulations for blessing and sustained relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 6 8 Word analysis
- You shall bind them:
- וּקְשַׁרְתָּם (uqqeshar'tam): From the root קָשַׁר (qashar), meaning "to bind," "tie," or "make fast." This indicates a firm, intentional, and secure attachment. It is an active command, not a suggestion, implying human effort in securing God's truth. The binding signifies the establishment of an unbreakable connection.
- as a sign:
- אוֹת (ot): A marker, token, emblem, or signal. It denotes something that serves to identify, remember, or signify a truth or relationship. Here, the commandments themselves are the sign, not an independent object imbued with magic. It functions as a public testimony and a personal reminder.
- on your hand:
- עַל־יָדְךָ (al-yadkha): "Upon your hand." The "hand" often symbolizes actions, deeds, labor, strength, power, and what one produces or performs. This suggests that God's commandments should visibly direct and govern all of one's practical daily life, choices, and vocational activities. It implies moral and ethical conduct in all dealings.
- and they shall be as frontlets:
- וְהָיוּ לְטוֹטָפֹת (vehayu letotafot): "They shall be for totaphoth." The term טוֹטָפֹת (totafot) is rare, appearing only in three Old Testament verses (Ex 13:16, Deut 6:8, Deut 11:18). Its precise etymology is debated. Traditionally, it refers to something worn or affixed to the forehead, later interpreted as phylacteries (tefillin). It broadly signifies a prominent visible mark or emblem. It highlights the importance of intellectual and spiritual alignment.
- between your eyes:
- בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ (ben-eineykha): "Between your eyes," meaning on the forehead. The forehead is symbolic of the mind, thoughts, understanding, intellect, wisdom, and perception. Placing the commandments here indicates that God's truth should constantly inform and control one's thoughts, values, perspectives, and cognitive processes. It ensures mental engagement and adherence to divine instruction.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- You shall bind them as a sign: This phrase conveys the deliberate act of making God's words ever-present. "Binding" emphasizes intentionality and security, while "sign" speaks to their role as both a personal mnemonic and a public declaration of allegiance to God. This actively prevents forgetfulness.
- on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes: This powerful pairing represents a holistic application of God's commands to every dimension of human existence. The "hand" encompasses all actions and endeavors, representing practical conduct and labor. "Between your eyes" signifies intellectual engagement, thought life, and guiding worldview. Together, they form a comprehensive call for God's word to govern both public behavior and private thought, ensuring consistency between one's outward life and inner convictions. It addresses both orthopraxy (right practice) and orthodoxy (right belief).
Deuteronomy 6 8 Bonus section
This verse implies an active and constant remembrance, which stands in stark contrast to forgetting God and His commands (a recurring theme of warning in Deuteronomy). It functions as a powerful pedagogical tool, a perpetual object lesson for oneself and for others. While literally interpreted as phylacteries in later Judaism, for Christian understanding, it points to the necessity of a faith that permeates our entire being:
- Head: Intellect, beliefs, convictions (mind, between eyes).
- Heart: Affections, desires, motivations (love the Lord your God with all your heart).
- Hand: Actions, conduct, decisions (daily deeds).This integrated approach means that God's truth is not merely heard but possessed, displayed, and acted upon without ceasing, making the believer a walking testament to God's authority and grace. It underscores the concept that genuine faith produces tangible evidence in daily living and internal reflection.
Deuteronomy 6 8 Commentary
Deuteronomy 6:8 underscores the paramount importance of internalizing and outwardly manifesting God's commandments. It's a vivid injunction to immerse oneself so fully in divine truth that it becomes inseparable from one's being. The "binding" is not merely about physical objects but the profound spiritual and cognitive absorption of God's Word. It must actively direct one's practical daily choices ("hand") and shape every thought and perspective ("between your eyes"). This is a call for comprehensive devotion where all actions stem from godly thinking, and thoughts are continually framed by God's truth. The command thus demands both active obedience and intellectual adherence, ensuring that allegiance to Yahweh is a continuous, undeniable reality in every facet of life. This ensures remembrance across generations and serves as a public witness to others. For instance, in practical application, this means daily engaging with Scripture before work decisions, consciously filtering news through biblical principles, or intentionally using Christian ethics as a guide in interactions.