Deuteronomy 6:4–5

Context

Deuteronomy is a book in sermonic form in which Moses expounds the law anew to Israel just before the people enter the land of Canaan. After restating the Ten Commandments in chapter 5, the book summarizes their core in chapter 6 with this brief confession and command. The verses that follow (6:6–9) instruct the people to keep these words in their hearts, to teach them diligently to their children, to bind them on their hands and between their eyes, and to write them on the doorposts of their houses.

"Shema" is the passage's first word, the Hebrew for "Hear." In Judaism the passage is recited morning and evening. Following 6:8–9, observant Jews wear phylacteries (tefillin) during prayer and affix small scripture cases (mezuzot) to their doorposts.

Interpretation

• As a confession of monotheism: Amid surrounding nations that worshiped many gods, the passage confesses that the God of Israel alone is the true God and that loyalty is owed to him alone. Because the Hebrew of verse 4 is terse, it can be rendered either "The LORD is one" (emphasizing his uniqueness) or "The LORD alone is our God" (emphasizing exclusive loyalty), and translations differ somewhat in emphasis.
• As a command to wholehearted love: Verse 5 commands love for God with all one's heart (levav), soul or life (nefesh), and might (me'od, "all one's strength"). Jesus identified this verse as the greatest commandment and, together with Leviticus 19:18, presented it as a summary of the law (Mark 12:29–31). The Gospel citation adds "mind," yielding four elements rather than three.

Debates and Issues

Jews and Muslims have appealed to this passage in criticizing the Christian doctrine of the Trinity as a departure from monotheism. Christians respond that the doctrine of the Trinity confesses not three gods but three persons within the one God. Some Christians point out that the word "one" (echad) can also denote a composite unity, as in "one flesh" in Genesis 2:24, though others caution that the word alone cannot prove the Trinity. New Testament scholars note that in 1 Corinthians 8:6 Paul draws directly on the Shema while placing "one God, the Father" alongside "one Lord Jesus Christ."

In the Korean Church

The phrase in 6:7, "thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children," is a key text for emphasizing family worship and faith education. Many churches run faith-education programs under the name "Shema education" that connect the home with the Sunday school.

Related Passages

• Deuteronomy 6:6–9
• Mark 12:28–34
• 1 Corinthians 8:4–6
• Deuteronomy 11:13–21
• John 10:30