Deuteronomy 6:3

Hear 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.

Hear {H8085} therefore, O Israel {H3478}, and observe {H8104} to do {H6213} it; that it may be well {H3190} with thee, and that ye may increase {H7235} mightily {H3966}, as the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of thy fathers {H1} hath promised {H1696} thee, in the land {H776} that floweth {H2100} with milk {H2461} and honey {H1706}.

Therefore listen, Isra'el, and take care to obey, so that things will go well with you, and so that you will increase greatly, as ADONAI, the God of your ancestors, promised you by giving you a land flowing with milk and honey.

Hear, 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.

Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:3 is a foundational verse within Moses' final address to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. It sets forth the crucial link between obedience to God's commands and the promised blessings of prosperity and well-being.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 6:1-25) that emphasizes the importance of teaching and obeying God's laws. Moses is speaking to a new generation, reminding them of the covenant God made with their fathers and the responsibilities that come with it. It directly precedes the famous Shema Yisrael (Deuteronomy 6:4), which calls Israel to singular devotion to the Lord. The surrounding verses highlight the need to impress God's commands upon their children and to remember them constantly, tying the nation's future success to their faithfulness.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • The Call to Hear and Obey: The phrase "Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do [it]" is a powerful command. The Hebrew word for "hear," Shema, implies much more than just listening with the ears; it means to listen attentively, understand, and most importantly, to obey. This active form of hearing is presented as the prerequisite for all subsequent blessings.
  • Promise of Well-being and Increase: God's intention for His people is their prosperity and growth. "That it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily" indicates a holistic well-being, encompassing physical, social, and national flourishing. This is a direct consequence of their adherence to the divine covenant, illustrating the principle that obedience brings blessings.
  • God's Faithfulness and Covenant: The verse grounds these promises in God's historical faithfulness: "as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee." This refers to the ancient covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, particularly concerning a numerous posterity and a specific land (Genesis 12:2). It reassures Israel that God will fulfill His word.
  • The Land Flowing with Milk and Honey: This iconic description of the Promised Land signifies abundance, fertility, and divine provision. It's a land of blessing and plenty, a stark contrast to the wilderness they had traversed. The promise of this land was a central motivation for their journey and a symbol of God's desire to provide richly for His people (Exodus 3:8).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term Shema (שּמַע) for "Hear" is pivotal here. It's not passive hearing but an active, responsive listening that demands obedience. This concept is central to the entire book of Deuteronomy, where God continually calls His people to 'hear and and obey' His statutes and judgments. The phrase "increase mightily" (Hebrew: trivun me'od) emphasizes a significant, exponential growth, reflecting God's desire for His people to thrive and multiply in the land.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 6:3 holds timeless truths for believers today. Just as ancient Israel's well-being was tied to their obedience, so too is our spiritual flourishing connected to our responsiveness to God's Word. When we "hear" God's commands – truly listen, understand, and apply them – we experience His blessings in our lives. This isn't about earning salvation, but about walking in harmony with God's will, which naturally leads to a more abundant and fruitful life, a spiritual "land flowing with milk and honey" that Christ offers (John 10:10). The verse encourages us to actively engage with Scripture, making its principles the foundation of our daily lives and teaching them to future generations.

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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 22:17

    That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

  • Exodus 3:8

    And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

  • Genesis 26:4

    And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

  • Genesis 28:14

    And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

  • Genesis 15:5

    And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

  • Deuteronomy 5:32

    Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

  • Deuteronomy 5:33

    Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and [that it may be] well with you, and [that] ye may prolong [your] days in the land which ye shall possess.
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