Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Read it in contextMoses' Exhortation to Love and Obey the LORD
Start reading at Deuteronomy 6:1 (Deuteronomy 6:1 to Deuteronomy 6:25).
This unit begins with the introduction of commandments and statutes and concludes with instructions on teaching future generations about God's deliverance and commands.
6:1Now 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:
6:2That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
6:3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
6:5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6:6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
6:7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
6:8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
6:9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
6:10And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
6:11And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
6:12Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
6:13Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
6:14Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
6:15(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
6:16Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
6:17Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
6:18And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
6:19To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.
6:20And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
6:21Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
6:22And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
6:23And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
6:24And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
6:25And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the principal speaker and is expressly credited with writing the law. The account of his death was supplied by a later hand; identifying that final writer as Joshua is traditional, not certain. Biblical references: Deuteronomy 31:9; Deuteronomy 31:24; Deuteronomy 34:5. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Deuteronomy 5:1–11:32): Moses addresses Israel about covenant loyalty, recalling Horeb, the wilderness, and God's provisions. Fathers and children are included in the community commanded to learn and obey. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel assembled in Moab before entering Canaan, and their children and later generations who were to hear the law read. Biblical references: Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 29:10; Deuteronomy 31:12. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme of Deuteronomy 6:1-25? The main theme is Moses' exhortation to Israel to diligently keep the commandments of the LORD, to love the LORD their God with all their heart, soul, and might, and to fear, serve, and swear by His name alone, remembering His deliverance from Egypt and His promise of the land.
What is God revealing in Deuteronomy 6:1-25? God is revealing His singular nature as "one LORD" and His expectation for His people to have exclusive devotion to Him, fearing Him, serving Him, and swearing by His name, and not to forget Him or go after other gods. He reveals Himself as a jealous God who delivers His people and fulfills His promises.
What is the literary style of Deuteronomy 6:1-25? The literary style is primarily exhortation, command, and instruction, presented as a series of sermons by Moses, emphasizing covenant renewal.
When
When was the book of Deuteronomy written? Approximately 1400 B.C. book background
When do the events described in Deuteronomy 6:1-25 take place? Approximately 1400 B.C., at the end of the wilderness years, just before Israel entered the land of Canaan. book background
Where
Where did the events described in Deuteronomy 6:1-25 happen? On the Plains of Moab, which are east of the Jordan River. book background
Where was the author located when he wrote this? Moses was located on the Plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Moses' Exhortation to Love and Obey the LORD (Deuteronomy 6:1 to Deuteronomy 6:25).
Start reading at Deuteronomy 6:1. This unit begins with the introduction of commandments and statutes and concludes with instructions on teaching future generations about God's deliverance and commands.
How
How does Deuteronomy 6:13 fit the broader context of Deuteronomy 6:1-25? This verse is a specific command within Moses' larger exhortation to Israel, reinforcing the call for exclusive devotion to the LORD. It follows the declaration that "The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the command to love Him completely (Deuteronomy 6:5), and precedes the warning against going after other gods (Deuteronomy 6:14-15), thus emphasizing the practical outworking of their covenant relationship with the one God. stated in the text
How does Deuteronomy 6:13 point to Christ? The command to fear, serve, and swear by the name of the one God points to the ultimate devotion and worship due to God. Jesus Christ Himself affirmed and exemplified this principle, quoting this very command when tempted by the devil, stating, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve," thereby demonstrating the enduring truth of exclusive devotion to the one God. interpretation
How do I apply Deuteronomy 6:13 today? Believers today are called to hold the one God in reverent awe and respect (fear), to serve Him with their lives and actions, and to honor His name in all their speech, avoiding any form of idolatry or taking His name in vain, thereby giving Him exclusive devotion as the only true God. interpretation
Early traditionJewish tradition (Baba Bathra 14b) and the early church name Moses.
What is debatedChapter 34 records the death of Moses, so even conservative scholars hold that a later hand, often identified as Joshua, added the closing account. Critical scholars date the book much later, to the seventh century B.C.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Deuteronomy 6
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Moses addresses Israel in Moab before the people cross the Jordan. The speeches recall the wilderness, expound covenant obligations, and confront the next generation with choices and consequences. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The covenant commands and appeals join exclusive devotion to the LORD with hearing, remembering, teaching, and obeying His words.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The covenant commands and appeals join exclusive devotion to the LORD with hearing, remembering, teaching, and obeying His words.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Deuteronomy
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Moses addresses Israel in Moab before the people cross the Jordan. The speeches recall the wilderness, expound covenant obligations, and confront the next generation with choices and consequences.
Connection to the wholeThe covenant commands and appeals join exclusive devotion to the LORD with hearing, remembering, teaching, and obeying His words.
Connection to the wholeDetailed commands apply covenant faithfulness to public worship, leadership, households, work, and the care of vulnerable people.
Connection to the wholeThe speeches set out covenant consequences and call Israel to choose life through love and obedience rather than presume upon privilege.