Translations
Original
Notes
The LORD our God, the LORD is One: Only God is worthy of worship (5:7).
Hear (Hebrew shema‘): The Shema is the basic statement of Israel’s faith. It begins with the call to listen and obey God.
Jesus said that these verses contain the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34–39; Mark 12:28–31; Luke 10:25–28). Jewish teachers in ancient times and today also honor these words. The rabbi Hillel, who lived in the first century BC, called the Shema the central teaching of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). He said that the rest of the Scripture is commentary, meaning explanation of that main idea.
Moses here explains how the stipulations in the following sections should be applied and handed on to future generations.
Parallels
People
Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes
Glossary
Amulet Archaeology and the Bible Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (Old Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Education Frontlet God, Being and Attributes of Israel (Person) Joshua, Book of Judaism Mezuzah Phylactery Shema Synagogue
Topics
Blessing: Temporal, from God Commandments: General Scriptures Concerning Elohim Frontlets: A Leather Band Worn on the Forehead, Containing Certain Commandments God: Personality of God: Providence of God: Unity of Law: On Frontlets for the Forehead, and Parchment for the Hand Monotheism Obedience: Enjoined One God Oneness Phylactery: A Small Box Containing Slips of Parchment on Which There Were Written Portions of the Law Unity of God: A Ground for Loving Him Supremely Unity of God: Asserted by Moses