King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Complete Jewish Bible:
and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates.
Berean Standard Bible:
Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.
American Standard Version:
And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And thou shalt write{H3789} them upon the posts{H4201} of thy house{H1004}, and on thy gates{H8179}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 11:20
- And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
Isaiah 30:8
- ¶ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Isaiah 57:8
- Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest [it].
Habakkuk 2:2
- And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Job 19:23
- ¶ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
Job 19:25
- For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth:
Exodus 12:7
- And they shall take of the blood, and strike [it] on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 6:9
Deuteronomy 6:9 is part of a larger section in the book of Deuteronomy where Moses is addressing the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. The verse falls within the Shema, one of the most important and central prayers in Judaism, which emphasizes the love for and commitment to God. The Shema begins in Deuteronomy 6:4 with the declaration of the oneness of God and continues with instructions on how to live according to God's commandments.
**Themes:**
1. **Remembrance and Presence of God:** The command to write God's words on the doorposts and gates signifies the importance of keeping God's laws at the forefront of one's life, ensuring that His commandments are always in sight and therefore always remembered.
2. **Teaching and Transmission:** This practice also serves as a pedagogical tool, a constant reminder for parents to teach their children about God's laws and the covenant between God and Israel.
3. **Sanctification of the Home:** By inscribing God's words on the physical structure of their homes, the Israelites were to sanctify their daily living spaces, setting them apart for holy use and as a testament to their faith.
4. **Visible Testimony:** The public display of the commandments serves as a testimony to others, both within the community and to outsiders, of the Israelites' commitment to God.
**Historical Context:**
Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches delivered by Moses to the Israelites in the plains of Moab, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, just before they enter the land of Canaan. These speeches review the law, renew the covenant between God and Israel, and provide instructions for when they inhabit the Promised Land.
The book is set during the final days of Moses' leadership, around the 13th century BCE, although modern scholarship often dates its composition much later, during the period of the monarchy or even after the Babylonian Exile. The laws and instructions given in Deuteronomy are part of an effort to centralize worship in Jerusalem and to reinforce a distinct Israelite identity amidst surrounding polytheistic cultures.
The practice of affixing scripture to doorposts is reflected in the later Jewish tradition of placing a mezuzah, a parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah (including Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21), on the doorframes of Jewish homes. This tradition continues to this day, embodying the enduring legacy of the commandment found in Deuteronomy 6:9.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3789
There are 212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּתַב
Transliteration: kâthab
Pronunciation: kaw-thab'
Description: a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe); describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten). - Strong's Number: H4201
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְזוּזָה
Transliteration: mᵉzûwzâh
Pronunciation: mez-oo-zaw'
Description: or מְזֻזָה; from the same as זִיז; a door-post (as prominent); (door, side) post. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H8179
There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁעַר
Transliteration: shaʻar
Pronunciation: shah'-ar
Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).