Deuteronomy 11:19

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And ye shall teach {H3925} them your children {H1121}, speaking {H1696} of them when thou sittest {H3427} in thine house {H1004}, and when thou walkest {H3212} by the way {H1870}, when thou liest {H7901} down, and when thou risest up {H6965}.

teach them carefully to your children, talking about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up;

Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

And ye shall teach them your children, talking of them, when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:19 is a profound command given to the Israelites by Moses, emphasizing the continuous and pervasive nature of teaching God's commandments to their children. This verse underscores the responsibility of parents and the community to ensure that divine instructions are not just learned but lived out and passed down through generations, integrated into every moment of daily life.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' second major discourse in the book of Deuteronomy, delivered to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they entered the Promised Land. Having recounted God's faithfulness and their fathers' disobedience, Moses reiterates the importance of obedience to God's laws for their well-being and prosperity in the land. Deuteronomy 11 serves as a powerful exhortation, reminding them of the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. Verse 19 builds upon earlier instructions, particularly the "Shema" in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which similarly calls for diligent teaching of God's words to children, binding them as signs and inscribing them on doorposts.

Key Themes

  • Intergenerational Faith Transfer: The primary command is to "teach them your children." This highlights the crucial role of parents and family in spiritual education, ensuring the covenant relationship with God endures through successive generations. It's about passing on a legacy of faith and obedience.
  • Pervasive Discipleship: The phrase "speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" illustrates that teaching God's word is not confined to formal lessons or specific times. It's an ongoing, natural part of daily conversation and life, whether at home, traveling, in the evening, or in the morning. This speaks to a holistic approach to spiritual formation.
  • Holistic Integration of Faith: The verse emphasizes that God's laws should permeate every aspect of life – domestic, public, and private. It's about living a life where faith informs all actions and conversations, making spiritual instruction a continuous, organic process rather than a separate activity.
  • Covenant Fidelity: By diligently teaching and living out God's commands, the Israelites would ensure their continued blessing and prosperity in the land, fulfilling their part of the covenant with God.

Linguistic Insights

The repetition of temporal phrases – "when thou sittest," "when thou walkest," "when thou liest down," and "when thou risest up" – is a powerful rhetorical device. It emphasizes the comprehensive and unbroken nature of this instruction. It means "at all times" or "continually." This is not about setting aside specific classroom hours, but about integrating the divine instruction into the very fabric of daily life, making it a constant point of reference and conversation.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 11:19 remains highly relevant for family discipleship and spiritual parenting. It encourages:

  • Intentionality: Parents are called to be deliberate in sharing their faith and God's Word with their children, not leaving it to chance or solely to external institutions.
  • Consistency: Spiritual conversations should be a regular, everyday occurrence, naturally woven into routines like mealtimes, car rides, bedtime stories, and morning preparations.
  • Modeling: Children learn as much from observation as from instruction. Living out one's faith authentically provides a powerful example for the next generation.
  • Holistic Living: This verse challenges us to view faith not as a compartmentalized part of life, but as the guiding principle for all our actions, thoughts, and words, ensuring that God's truth is always at the forefront of our minds and conversations. It fosters a home where God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 6:7 (13 votes)

    And 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.

  • Psalms 34:11 (7 votes)

    ¶ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 4:9 (7 votes)

    Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

  • Deuteronomy 4:10 (7 votes)

    [Specially] the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and [that] they may teach their children.

  • Isaiah 38:19 (6 votes)

    The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I [do] this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

  • Proverbs 2:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

  • Proverbs 4:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.