Deuteronomy 10:20

Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

Thou shalt fear {H3372} the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}; him shalt thou serve {H5647}, and to him shalt thou cleave {H1692}, and swear {H7650} by his name {H8034}.

You are to fear ADONAI your God, serve him, cling to him and swear by his name.

You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.

Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 10:20 (KJV): "Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name."

Deuteronomy 10:20 encapsulates core tenets of Israel's relationship with God, presented by Moses as a foundational summary of divine expectation. This verse emphasizes a comprehensive and exclusive devotion to the LORD, calling for reverence, active service, unwavering loyalty, and public acknowledgment of His supreme authority.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' second discourse to the Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Chapters 9 and 10 of Deuteronomy recount Israel's past failures, particularly the incident of the golden calf, and God's renewed covenant with them. Moses reminds the people of God's immense power, justice, and love (as seen in Deuteronomy 10:17-19), urging them to respond with wholehearted commitment. This command is a direct echo of earlier instructions, such as Deuteronomy 6:13, reinforcing the absolute centrality of God in their national and personal lives.

Key Themes

  • Fear the LORD thy God: This "fear" (Hebrew: yare) is not terror but a profound sense of awe, reverence, and respect for God's holiness, power, and majesty. It implies acknowledging His authority and sovereignty, leading to humble obedience and worship. It is the beginning of wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 9:10.
  • Him shalt thou serve: To "serve" (Hebrew: 'avad) signifies active worship, obedience, and dedication in all aspects of life. It means living in accordance with God's commands, putting His will above all else, and dedicating one's abilities and resources to His purposes. This service is exclusive, as Jesus Himself affirmed in Matthew 4:10.
  • And to him shalt thou cleave: The word "cleave" (Hebrew: dabaq) is a powerful term often used to describe deep attachment and loyalty, like the bond between a husband and wife (Genesis 2:24). It denotes sticking closely to God, being joined to Him in intimate fellowship, and remaining steadfastly loyal even amidst challenges. It speaks of an unwavering commitment of the heart and mind.
  • And swear by his name: This command emphasizes the unique identity and supreme authority of the LORD. To swear by His name is to invoke His divine presence as a witness to truth and solemn promises. It signifies a public acknowledgment of His deity and an exclusive reliance on Him for validation and truth, distinguishing Him from all false gods. This highlights His incomparable nature, as prophesied in Isaiah 45:23.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verbs employed in Deuteronomy 10:20 are rich in meaning:

  • Yare (ירא): "Fear," conveying not just terror, but a profound awe and reverence that leads to obedience.
  • 'Avad (Χ’Χ‘Χ“): "Serve," meaning to work, labor, worship, or be a servant. It implies practical, active devotion.
  • Dabaq (Χ“Χ‘Χ§): "Cleave," meaning to cling, stick, hold fast, or be joined. It suggests an inseparable bond and deep, emotional attachment.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 10:20 remains a profound call to wholehearted devotion. It challenges us to:

  • Cultivate a reverent awe for God, recognizing His holiness and sovereignty in our lives.
  • Actively serve Him not just in formal worship, but in our daily work, relationships, and decisions.
  • Maintain an intimate and unwavering loyalty to Him, allowing nothing to separate us from His love or His will.
  • Publicly acknowledge His name and authority, letting our lives and words bear witness to His truth and uniqueness in a world of competing allegiances.

This verse reminds us that true faith is comprehensive, touching every aspect of our being and demanding an exclusive, passionate commitment to the God who redeems and sustains us.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 6:13

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

  • Deuteronomy 13:4

    Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

  • Luke 4:8

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

  • Deuteronomy 11:22

    For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

  • Matthew 4:10

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

  • Psalms 63:11

    But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

  • Isaiah 45:23

    I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
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