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Deuteronomy 6:5

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 6:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son`s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3Hear 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.
4Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:
5and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;
7and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk 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.
8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God, etc.] Which is the first and chief commandment in the law, the sum and substance of the first table of it; and includes in it, or at least has connected with it, knowledge of God, esteem of him, delight in him, faith and trust in him, fear and worship of him, and obedience to him, which when right springs from it. God is to be loved because of the perfections of his nature, and the works of his hand, of nature, providence, and grace; and because of the relations he stands in to men, and especially to his own people; and because of his peculiar love to them; and, indeed, he is to be loved by all men for his care of them, and blessings of goodness bestowed…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Since there is but One God, and that God is Israel’s God, so Israel must love God unreservedly and entirely. The “heart” is mentioned as the seat of the understanding; the “soul” as the center of will and personality; the “might” as representing the outgoings and energies of all the vital powers. The New Testament itself requires no more than this total self-surrender of man’s being to his maker Matthew 22:37. The Gospel differs from the Law not so much in replacing an external and carnal service of God by an inward and spiritual one, as in supplying new motives and special assistances for the attainment of that divine love which was, from the first and all along, enjoined as “the first and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart - And is this only an external commandment? Can any then say, that the Sinai - covenant was merely external? With all thy heart - With an entire love. He is One; therefore our hearts must be united in his love. And the whole stream of our affections must run toward Him. O that this love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts. Deuteronomy 6:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:5 love the Lord: See study note on Josh 23:11. • The words heart, . . . soul, and . . . strength represent the intellect, the will, the emotions, the spirituality, and the physical being—all that a person is and can do for God. This commandment is the core of God’s covenant with Israel (see Jesus’ comments in Matt 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou shalt: Deu 10:12; Deu 11:13; Deu 30:6; Mat 22:37; Mar 12:30, Mar 12:33; Luk 10:27; Jo1 5:3 God with all: Deu 4:29; Kg2 23:25; Mat 10:37; Joh 14:20, Joh 14:21; Co2 5:14, Co2 5:15 Deuteronomy 6:6”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification