Deuteronomy 6:6

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And these words {H1697}, which I command {H6680} thee this day {H3117}, shall be in thine heart {H3824}:

These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart;

These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;

Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:6 is a pivotal verse within the heart of the Shema, Israel's foundational declaration of faith and obedience. It underscores the profound importance of internalizing God's commands, making them an integral part of one's very being.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites as they stood on the brink of entering the Promised Land. Recognizing the dangers of prosperity and the temptation to forget God (as warned in Deuteronomy 8:11-14), Moses passionately reiterates the covenant stipulations. The preceding verses, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, declare the singularity of God and the command to love Him with all one's heart, soul, and might. Verse 6 then specifies how this love and commitment are to be maintained: by keeping God's words deeply rooted within the heart, not just as rules, but as guiding principles for life and the basis for teaching future generations, as elaborated in Deuteronomy 6:7.

Key Themes

  • Internalization of God's Word: The primary message is that God's commands are not to be merely intellectual knowledge or external observances. They must penetrate the deepest part of one's being, shaping thoughts, desires, and actions. This goes beyond rote memorization to genuine understanding and personal embrace.
  • Heartfelt Obedience: True obedience springs from an inner conviction and love for God, rather than compulsion or fear. When God's words are "in thine heart," they naturally influence behavior, leading to a life aligned with His will. This concept is echoed throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of a sincere heart over outward show (1 Samuel 16:7).
  • Foundation for Discipleship: This verse serves as the personal prerequisite for the command in the very next verse to diligently teach these words to one's children. For the transmission of faith to be effective, it must first be genuinely lived out and deeply held by the parents.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "heart" here is lev (לֵב) or levav (לֵבָב). In ancient Hebrew thought, the "heart" was not solely the seat of emotions, as it often is in modern Western understanding. Instead, it was considered the center of a person's entire being – encompassing their intellect, will, conscience, and emotions. Therefore, for God's words to be "in thine heart" means they are to be the core of one's thinking, decision-making, and affections, influencing every aspect of life. This comprehensive understanding of the heart highlights the holistic nature of biblical faith and obedience.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 6:6 remains a powerful call to a deeper engagement with God's Word. It challenges us to move beyond superficial reading or mere intellectual assent to a transformative internalization. This involves:

  • Meditation and Memorization: Regularly reflecting on Scripture and committing verses to memory helps to embed them in the heart.
  • Prayer and Reflection: Asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate God's Word and apply it to our lives ensures it becomes a living force within us.
  • Living it Out: Allowing God's commands to guide our daily choices, relationships, and priorities demonstrates that they are truly in our hearts. This commitment to internalizing God's law finds its ultimate fulfillment in the new covenant, where God promises to put His law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts (Hebrews 8:10).

This verse reminds us that genuine faith is not just about what we know, but about what truly governs our innermost being and directs our walk with God.

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

  • Colossians 3:16 (18 votes)

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Jeremiah 31:33 (17 votes)

    But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Proverbs 7:3 (16 votes)

    Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

  • Deuteronomy 11:18 (14 votes)

    ¶ Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

  • Psalms 37:31 (12 votes)

    The law of his God [is] in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:3 (11 votes)

    [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

  • Deuteronomy 32:46 (11 votes)

    And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.