1These are the commandments and statutes and ordinances that the LORD your God has instructed me to teach you to follow in the land that you are about to enter and possess,
2so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged.
3Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
5And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts.
7And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.
10And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build,
11with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied,
12be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
13Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
14Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.
15For the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.
16Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.
17You are to diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and statutes He has given you.
18Do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may be well with you and that you may enter and possess the good land that the LORD your God swore to give your fathers,
19driving out all your enemies before you, as the LORD has said.
20In the future, when your son asks, “What is the meaning of the decrees and statutes and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?”
21then you are to tell him, “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
22Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household.
23But He brought us out from there to lead us in and give us the land that He had sworn to our fathers.
24And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes and to fear the LORD our God, that we may always be prosperous and preserved, as we are to this day.
25And if we are careful to observe every one of these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us, then that will be our righteousness.”
Deuteronomy 6 Verse Notes
Deut 6:1
God's Love and Wrath in the Old Testament
The Old Testament God is often characterized by wrath and vengeance, while the New Testament God is seen as loving and forgiving. However, this is an oversimplification. The Old Testament God also demonstrates love for his people, Israel, and commands them to love God and their neighbors. Simultaneously, he is a God of justice and wrath, inflicting suffering and death on others, as seen in the conquest of Jericho.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Is the God of Revelation the Same as the God of Jesus? · watch the clip
Deut 6:4-6
Entering the Kingdom: Love God and Neighbor
According to Mark, Jesus teaches that entering the Kingdom of God requires following God's law, specifically the greatest commandments: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. The scribe who understood this was told he was 'not far from the kingdom of God.'
Summarized by AI · The Genius of Mark: Jesus the Secret Messiah · Lecture 3: The Teachings of Jesus in Mark · watch the clip
Deut 6:4
The double love commandment as Jesus' teaching
Jesus reiterates the Baptizer's call to repentance, linking it to an ethical demand for mutual forgiveness. He emphasizes the Ten Commandments, citing Deuteronomy 6:4 for piety (love God) and Leviticus 19:18 for righteousness (love your neighbor). Matthew's Gospel extends this to include loving one's enemies, positioning these as foundational to Jesus' teachings.
Summarized by AI · Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Lecture 3: Beginnings | From Jesus to Christ · watch the clip
God of Israel's Superiority
Within the henotheistic framework of ancient Israel, the God of Israel was considered superior to other gods. His superiority was demonstrated through his power to conquer or overpower other deities, reinforcing the belief that he was the only one worthy of worship by his people. This power differential was the primary reason for exclusive worship.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · One God Among Many: Rethinking the God of the Bible · watch the clip
Biblical Basis for Monotheism
The concept of the Trinity, while not explicitly stated in the Bible, arises from biblical statements. A foundational principle is the strong monotheistic emphasis found in passages like Isaiah and Deuteronomy, which declare that there is only one God and no other. This Oneness of God is central to both Jewish and early Christian belief.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Where Did the Trinity Come From? · watch the clip
The Sh'ma: Yahweh Alone is Our God
The famous declaration 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one' (the Sh'ma) is best understood not as a statement of monotheism, but as henotheism or monolatry. It asserts that Yahweh is Israel's exclusive God, implying the existence of other gods but prohibiting Israel from worshipping them. This aligns with the exclusive allegiance demanded in ancient vassal treaties.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 10: Deuteronomy | Let's Run That Back · watch the clip
Deuteronomy 6:4 is not strictly monotheistic
The Shema, from Deuteronomy 6:4, often translated as 'Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one,' is not a straightforward monotheistic statement. The original Hebrew is open to various interpretations, such as 'Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone' or 'Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is unique.' The phrase 'our God' implies the existence of other gods, distinguishing Yahweh as the specific deity of Israel rather than the only existing deity.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · The Most Famous Prayer in Judaism Isn’t Monotheistic; Neither is the Bible · watch the clip
Deut 6:5
The Two Great Commandments: Love God and Neighbor
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus cited two passages from the Torah: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' He stated that all the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments, implying that true love for God is demonstrated through actions of love towards one's neighbor.
Summarized by AI · Paul and Jesus: The Great Divide · Lecture 3: Jesus the Moral Teacher · watch the clip
Love God and Neighbor as the Essence of the Law
When asked about the most important commandment, Jesus quoted two passages from the Torah. He stated that the essence of God's law is to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself. This highlights the centrality of these two principles in his teaching.
Summarized by AI · The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems · Lecture 5: Misquoting Jesus | Separating the Jesus of History From the Christ of Faith · watch the clip
Love is a pervasive theme in the Hebrew Bible
The assertion that love is absent from the Hebrew Bible is a myth. The Hebrew Bible consistently emphasizes God's love for his people and includes commands to love God with all one's heart, soul, and strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself. Various forms of love, including passionate, familial, communal, and divine love, are found throughout its texts.
Summarized by AI · The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems · Lecture 7: A History of Hatred, Intolerance, and Violence | Is the Bible to Blame? · watch the clip
Love for God and Neighbor as the Greatest Commandments
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus identifies loving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength, and loving one's neighbor as oneself. He asserts that these two commandments fulfill the entire Law and the Prophets, highlighting love as the core principle of God's will.
Summarized by AI · The Genius of the Gospel of Matthew: What Scholars Say About the First Gospel · Lecture 4: The Sermon on the Mount and the New Moses · watch the clip
Deuteronomy's 'Love' as Loyalty in Ancient Near Eastern Treaties
The term 'love' in Deuteronomy, particularly in the command to 'love the Lord your God,' should be understood not as emotional affection but as loyalty and obedience. This interpretation is derived from the context of ancient Near Eastern treaties, where the word 'love' carried this specific meaning in vassal agreements. Recognizing Deuteronomy's participation in this treaty form allows for a deeper, historically informed understanding of the text.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 28: Beyond Historical Criticism · watch the clip
Meaning of 'Love' in Deuteronomy Changes Over Time
The meaning of 'love' in Deuteronomy, originally understood as loyalty within a 7th-century BCE Assyrian treaty context, evolved over time. Readers in the 5th century BCE, after the Assyrian empire's decline and the experience of exile, would have interpreted the same words differently due to their changed historical and cultural context. This demonstrates that textual meaning is not static but contingent on the reader's historical moment and 'archive' of knowledge.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 28: Beyond Historical Criticism · watch the clip
The Coat of Many Colors: Ambiguity in Biblical Language
The precise meaning of the 'coat' Jacob gives Joseph remains uncertain, as the Hebrew terms are ambiguous and appear only twice in the Bible for different characters. This highlights how ancient texts can contain words whose exact meanings have been lost over time, yet readers continue to derive meaning, even if it's not historically precise. The popular 'amazing technicolor dreamcoat' interpretation, while likely inaccurate, illustrates this ongoing process of meaning-making despite linguistic gaps.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 28: Beyond Historical Criticism · watch the clip
The Evolution of 'Love' in Deuteronomy: From Treaty to Emotion
The understanding of 'love' in Deuteronomy 6:5, initially interpreted as treaty obligation based on ancient Near Eastern documents, shifted to emotional love over centuries. Even after scholars recovered the original treaty context in the 1960s, this historical insight does not negate the validity of contemporary faith communities who continue to read it as emotional love. Meaning is shaped by a community's reading history and current context, not solely by original intent.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 28: Beyond Historical Criticism · watch the clip
Lawyer's Correct Answer on the Law
When Jesus asks the lawyer what is written in the Law, the lawyer correctly cites Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, summarizing the greatest commandments as love for God and love for neighbor. This response would have been widely accepted by Jews at the time, with Rabbi Akiva even calling Leviticus 19 the greatest principle in the Torah.
Summarized by AI · The Parables of Jesus: Jewish Insights into Gospel Ethics, Humor, and Provocation · Lecture 2: Samaritans, Priests, and Levites | How History Impacts Parable Interpretation · watch the clip
Love as Obedience in Deuteronomy
In Deuteronomy 6, the commandment to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength' does not primarily refer to an emotion. Instead, it signifies giving God His due, worshipping Him, and devoting one's life to Him, as emotions cannot be commanded.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · The Surprising Truth Behind ��Love Thy Neighbor�� · watch the clip
Jewish Roots of Jesus' Ethics: Love for God and Neighbor
Jesus' teachings shared similarities with other ancient moral teachers, particularly within Judaism. As a committed Jew, Jesus upheld the Torah, emphasizing the two main commandments: to love God with all one's heart, soul, and and strength (Deuteronomy 6) and to love one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19). These were central to his ethical framework.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Did Jesus Invent Charity? · watch the clip
Love God and Neighbor: The Greatest Commandments
When asked about the most important commandments, Jesus in Matthew cites loving God with all one's heart, mind, and strength, and loving one's neighbor as oneself. He declares that 'on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets,' indicating that these principles are the foundational requirements for being in God's favor.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Must Christians Keep Kosher? Decoding Matthew��s Answer · watch the clip
Jesus' Summary of the Law: Love God and Neighbor
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus states that the entire law and the prophets depend on two commands: loving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6) and loving one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18). This highlights that the essence of the law is about behaving in loving ways toward God and others, rather than strict adherence to ritual details.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Can Anyone Keep the Jewish Law? · watch the clip
Jesus' Understanding of the Law
Jesus' understanding of the Jewish law, as presented in the Gospels, emphasizes that the core of the law is to love God with all one's heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6) and to love one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus expanded the definition of 'neighbor' to include anyone in need, and he believed that love could supersede other laws if they conflicted.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Why Should We Think Luke and Acts Have the Same Author? · watch the clip
The Two Greatest Commandments
Jesus identified two commandments as the most important in the entire Torah, summarizing all law. The first, from Deuteronomy 6, is to love God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. The second, from Leviticus 19:18, is to love one's neighbor as oneself.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Do Fundamentalists (Actually) Follow Jesus? · watch the clip
Joshua's Final Admonition to Follow the Torah
At the end of his life, Joshua reiterates the importance of fulfilling the instruction and Torah of Moses, echoing key Deuteronomic passages. In Joshua 22:5, he urges the people to love God, walk in His ways, and keep His commandments, reminiscent of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:5. Joshua 23 further warns against deviating from the Torah, intermingling with other nations, or serving other gods, drawing heavily from Deuteronomic commands.
Summarized by AI · The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings · Lecture 2: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan | Too Good to Be True · watch the clip
Love as Obedience in the Sh'ma
The command to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might' in the Sh'ma, when understood in its ancient Near Eastern treaty context, primarily signifies obedience rather than emotional affection. In treaties, 'love' for a king meant unwavering loyalty and adherence to his commands, reflecting the nature of Israel's covenant with God.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 10: Deuteronomy | Let's Run That Back · watch the clip
Love and Hate as Diplomatic Loyalty, Not Emotion
The terms 'love' and 'hate' (or 'reject') in biblical passages like Exodus 20:5-6 and Deuteronomy 6:5 are not primarily expressions of human emotion but rather diplomatic language found in ancient Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaties. 'Love' signifies loyalty and obedience to the dominant power, while 'hate' or 'reject' denotes disloyalty and disobedience.
Summarized by AI · The Ten Commandments · Lecture 6: The Divine Name and the Sabbath · watch the clip
Love as covenantal loyalty, not emotion
The concept of 'love' in Deuteronomy 6:5, particularly in the phrase 'those who love me and keep my commandments,' is not about human emotion but about covenantal loyalty and obedience. This understanding comes from ancient Near Eastern diplomatic treaties, where 'love' signified allegiance to a suzerain power, and 'hate' meant disloyalty or rejection. Therefore, to 'love' God means to be obedient and loyal by following His commandments, rather than having a specific emotional feeling.
Summarized by AI · The Ten Commandments · Lecture 6: The Divine Name and the Sabbath · watch the clip
Hesed as Reciprocal Covenantal Favor
The Hebrew word 'hesed,' often translated as 'loving-kindness,' represents the reciprocal favor shown by a dominant party (like God) to a loyal subject (like Israel) within a covenantal agreement. It is not mere kindness but a specific type of favor tied to the subject's obedience and loyalty, as seen in the diplomatic language of ancient treaties.
Summarized by AI · The Ten Commandments · Lecture 6: The Divine Name and the Sabbath · watch the clip
Deuteronomy's additions to Exodus's description of God
Deuteronomy's description of God, particularly in the Ten Commandments, draws upon and expands the self-description found in Exodus 34:6-7. While Exodus describes God as compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger, Deuteronomy adds the concepts of 'love,' 'hate,' and 'kindness' (hesed) to this description. These additions reflect Deuteronomy's unique perspective, framing God's relationship with Israel in terms of diplomatic treaties, a context not present in the J document from which Exodus 34 originates.
Summarized by AI · The Ten Commandments · Lecture 6: The Divine Name and the Sabbath · watch the clip
Deut 6:6
Deuteronomy's Self-Awareness as a Text
Deuteronomy is uniquely self-aware, frequently referring to itself as 'this Torah' that Moses wrote down and commanded to be read, copied, and taught to future generations. This emphasis on its own textual nature and promulgation ensures its legacy and continued relevance, providing instructions for its preservation and dissemination among all Israelites.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 10: Deuteronomy | Let's Run That Back · watch the clip
Deut 6:13
Jesus' Third Temptation: Worshiping God Alone
In the final temptation, the devil offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he bows down and worships him. Jesus rebukes Satan, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20, which command worship of God alone. This contrasts with Israel's idolatry in the wilderness, particularly with the golden calf, demonstrating Jesus' singular devotion to God.
Summarized by AI · The Genius of the Gospel of Matthew: What Scholars Say About the First Gospel · Lecture 5: Matthew as an Anti-Jewish Jewish Gospel? · watch the clip
Deut 6:14
Covenant Breaking Through Idolatry
The Hebrew Bible repeatedly highlights Israel's failure to uphold their covenant with Yahweh, primarily through the worship of other gods. This disobedience is consistently presented as the reason for divine judgment, including the exile.
Summarized by AI · Everyday Life in Ancient Israel · Lecture 3: Household Religion · watch the clip
Deut 6:16
Jesus' Second Temptation: Not Testing God
During the second temptation, the devil urges Jesus to jump from the temple pinnacle, citing scripture that angels would protect him. Jesus counters with Deuteronomy 6:16, asserting that one should not put the Lord God to the test. This parallels Israel's lack of trust and demanding proof from God for water in the wilderness, highlighting Jesus' unwavering faith.
Summarized by AI · The Genius of the Gospel of Matthew: What Scholars Say About the First Gospel · Lecture 5: Matthew as an Anti-Jewish Jewish Gospel? · watch the clip
Deut 6:20-21
Rationale for the laws: God's deliverance from Egypt
The laws in Deuteronomy are given a clear rationale: when future generations ask why these laws are followed, the answer is that God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. This theological perspective frames the laws as God's requirements in exchange for their liberation.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 10: Deuteronomy | Let's Run That Back · watch the clip
