Deuteronomy 6:9 kjv
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deuteronomy 6:9 nkjv
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:9 niv
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:9 esv
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:9 nlt
Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:6-7 | These words... diligently teach your children... talk of them when you sit in your house... | The words to be written are the preceding commands. |
| Deut 11:18-20 | Therefore you shall lay up these words... and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. | Reinforcement of the same command. |
| Exod 12:7, 22-23 | Take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses... | Passover sign on doorposts signifies protection by God. |
| Exod 13:9 | It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes... | Command to remember God's deliverance (Passover). |
| Num 15:39 | And it shall be to you as a fringe... so you remember all the commandments of the Lord. | Tangible reminders of God's commands. |
| Prov 3:3 | Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Internalization of wisdom and commands. |
| Prov 7:3 | Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Emphasizes inward possession of wisdom. |
| Ps 1:2 | But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Continual engagement with God's law. |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night... | Continual study and adherence to the Word. |
| Isa 59:21 | "My Spirit that is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart..." | God's word eternally residing with His people. |
| Jer 31:33 | "I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their heart..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant's internalized law. |
| Ezek 8:14-16 | And he brought me to the entrance of the gate... where women were weeping for Tammuz. | Contrasts pagan symbols at gates with God's law. |
| Matt 22:37-39 | You shall love the Lord your God... You shall love your neighbor as yourself. | Summation of the Law, indicating its spiritual essence. |
| Luke 10:25-28 | "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" "Love the Lord your God... and your neighbor." | Reinforces the internal grasp of the Law's purpose. |
| Rom 2:14-15 | When Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires... showing that the law is written on their hearts. | Gentiles' innate moral understanding aligning with God's law. |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." | New Covenant fulfills Jeremiah's prophecy; law within. |
| Heb 10:16 | "I will put My laws upon their heart, and write them on their mind." | Repetition of the New Covenant promise. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Practical application of God's Word, beyond mere display. |
| 1 Tim 4:16 | Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching... for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. | Living out the truth and instructing others. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness... | Scripture's ultimate purpose for life. |
| Rev 3:12 | "I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God... and My own new name." | God marking His own for eternity, symbolic of ownership. |
Deuteronomy 6 verses
Deuteronomy 6 9 Meaning
This verse instructs the Israelites to permanently display God's commandments on the entryways of their homes and cities. It signifies the pervasive integration of divine law into daily life, serving as a constant visible reminder of their covenant obligations and God's presence, both within the private family sphere and in public communal spaces.
Deuteronomy 6 9 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 6 forms a central part of Moses' farewell addresses to the generation of Israelites poised to enter the Promised Land. This particular verse is a direct command flowing from the "Shema" (Deut 6:4-5), which mandates absolute love and devotion to God. It follows instructions for teaching these divine words to children and integrating them into every facet of life. The commands regarding writing on doorposts and gates, binding on hands, and placing between eyes are part of a larger exhortation for Israel to distinguish itself from the surrounding pagan nations by being thoroughly saturated with God's commandments, ensuring their faith would not wane as they established a new life in the land. This context underscores the vital importance of consistent engagement with and visible representation of God's covenant for personal and national faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 6 9 Word analysis
- You shall write them (וּכְתַבְתָּם֙ - u'khetavtam): The verb katav (to write) denotes a concrete action, making something intangible visible. The "them" refers back to "these words" (Deut 6:6), which primarily encapsulate the Shema's core truth of God's unity and the command to love Him wholeheartedly. This act symbolizes externalizing an internal commitment to God's commandments.
- on the doorposts (עַל־מְזוּזֹ֣ת - 'al-mezuzot): Mezuzot refers to the vertical sideposts of a doorframe. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, these points were significant thresholds, often bearing protective inscriptions or symbols. Here, the divine command reclaims and sanctifies this practice, designating the visible display of God's word, rather than pagan charms, as the source of blessing and identity.
- of your house (בֵיתֶ֑ךָ - beitakha): Beit means "house" or "household," encompassing the dwelling and the family within it. Writing on the doorposts of the house signifies that God's law should permeate and govern the most intimate and private sphere of existence, shaping personal conduct and family life. It establishes God's authority at the entry and exit of daily private interactions.
- and on your gates (וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ - u'vish'arekha): Sha'ar (gate) refers to the main entranceways of cities or larger compounds. Gates in ancient societies were public focal points—places where civic matters, legal judgments, and commerce took place. Writing on the gates emphasizes that God's law should extend beyond the private home, permeating all aspects of communal life, public discourse, and transactions, serving as a clear witness to both covenant people and surrounding nations.
- "on the doorposts of your house and on your gates": This complete phrase symbolizes the pervasive and comprehensive presence of God's word. It signifies that God's authority and truth should saturate every realm of life—from the personal and domestic sphere to the public and civic domain. This command underscores both the constant internal reminder needed for the covenant community and their public declaration of allegiance to the One God. It ensures the Law is perpetually visible, influencing mindset and action both privately and collectively, and standing in stark contrast to pagan practices of idols at such prominent points.
Deuteronomy 6 9 Bonus section
While the literal commandment to write on doorposts primarily relates to the Jewish mezuzah custom, the underlying principle of internalizing and outwardly manifesting God's Word remains deeply significant for all believers. The command in Deuteronomy is part of a larger theme within the Scriptures that emphasizes the importance of immersing oneself in divine truth for both personal transformation and collective witness (Ps 119:105, Heb 8:10). For followers of Christ, the essence of this verse transcends physical inscription, emphasizing that God's Word should indwell believers' hearts, transforming their character, thoughts, and actions, making them living letters of Christ, seen and read by all (2 Cor 3:2-3). This is an organic permeation, not just a static display, where Christ's very life becomes visible through the believer, just as the words were to be visible on the physical structures.
Deuteronomy 6 9 Commentary
Deuteronomy 6:9 commands a foundational act that inscribes God's words into the very architecture of Israel's existence. Far from a mere superficial ritual, this instruction demands a constant, visible reminder of divine authority in every domain of life. By affixing the words to doorposts and city gates, the Israelites were continuously encountering God's commands—reminding themselves of their covenant, educating their children through repeated exposure, and testifying to the surrounding world about their unique devotion to the Lord. It taught that faith was not confined to abstract belief or worship at specific times but was to saturate every daily action and decision, in both personal privacy and public life. This continuous interaction with the visible Word aimed to foster an active, enduring, and distinctive covenant community that lived by God's truth.
- Examples:
- At Home: Families may choose a Bible verse for their home, strategically placed, to serve as a visual prompt for prayer, conversation about faith, or guiding principles for interactions.
- In Public: A business displaying core values rooted in Christian ethics or an individual's conduct in public reflecting biblical principles of integrity and compassion.