Deuteronomy 6:10-15

10 "And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you--with great and good cities 1that you did not build,
11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant--and when you eat and are full,
12 2then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
13 It is 3the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and 4by his name you shall swear.
14 You shall not 5go after other gods, 6the gods of the peoples who are around you--
15 for 7the LORD your God in your midst 8is a jealous God--9lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 6:10-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 6

In this chapter Moses proceeds on in his exhortations to the people of Israel, to attend to the commandments of God, that it might be well with them, De 6:1-3, and begins with a principal and fundamental article of religion, which deserved their first and chief regard, the unity of God, and the love of him, De 6:4,5, which they were carefully to instinct their children in, and ever to be mindful of themselves, De 6:6-9, and when they were come into the land of Canaan, and into a plentiful enjoyment of all good things in it, they are exhorted to be careful not to forget the Lord, their kind benefactor; but to fear him, serve him, and not go after other gods, since he is jealous of his honour and worship, De 6:10-15 and not to tempt him, as they had done, but diligently keep, his commandments, that it might be well with them in that land, De 6:16-19, and when their children inquired the reason and meaning of such testimonies, statutes, and judgments, that were enjoined them, they were to give them the history of their case in Egypt, their deliverance from thence, the wonders that were wrought for them, and the introduction of them into the good land of Canaan; and to let them know that these commands were some of them in commemoration of these blessings; and by these they were laid under obligation to regard them all, and the rather, since they were not only for the glory of God, but for their own good, De 6:20-25.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Joshua 24:13; [Joshua 11:13; Nehemiah 9:25; Psalms 105:44]
  • 2. [Proverbs 30:8, 9]
  • 3. Cited Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8
  • 4. Deuteronomy 10:20; Joshua 2:12; Psalms 63:11; Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 65:16; Jeremiah 12:16
  • 5. Deuteronomy 8:19; Deuteronomy 11:16, 28; Deuteronomy 13:2, 3; Deuteronomy 28:14; Jeremiah 25:6
  • 6. Deuteronomy 13:7
  • 7. Deuteronomy 7:21
  • 8. See Exodus 20:5
  • 9. Deuteronomy 7:4; Deuteronomy 11:17
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.