Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 6:20-25

The Shema and the Whole-Life Response to the Incomparable God

From the purpose frame (vv. 1-3) through the Shema and its whole-life demands (vv. 4-9), the prosperity warning (vv. 10-15), the Massah warning (vv. 16-19), and the catechetical instruction (vv. 20-25) — the chapter moves from the covenant's concentrated heart outward into every dimension of life: the inner person, the home, the street, the gate, the field, and the next generation.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

20In the future, when your son asks, “What is the meaning of the decrees and statutes and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?”

21then you are to tell him, “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

22Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household.

23But He brought us out from there to lead us in and give us the land that He had sworn to our fathers.

24And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes and to fear the LORD our God, that we may always be prosperous and preserved, as we are to this day.

25And if we are careful to observe every one of these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us, then that will be our righteousness.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 20

Cross-references

Ephesians 6:4Classic cross-references Exodus 13:14Classic cross-references Exodus 10:2Classic cross-references Exodus 12:26Classic cross-references Joshua 4:6Classic cross-references

Original words

In the futureמָחָ֖רH4279Adverbwhenכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyour sonבִנְךָ֛H1121Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularasksיִשְׁאָלְךָ֥H7592Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular. . .לֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructWhatמָ֣הH4100Interrogativeis the meaning of the decreesהָעֵדֹ֗תH5713Article | Noun - feminine pluraland statutesוְהַֽחֻקִּים֙H2706Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine pluraland ordinancesוְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔יםH4941Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularour Godאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּH430Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural-אֶתְכֶֽם׃H853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralhas commanded youצִוָּ֛הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:34Classic cross-references Ephesians 2:11Classic cross-references Romans 6:17Classic cross-references Acts 7:36Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 15:15Classic cross-references

Original words

then you are to tellוְאָמַרְתָּ֣H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularhimלְבִנְךָ֔H1121Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularWe wereהָיִ֥ינוּH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralslavesעֲבָדִ֛יםH5650Noun - masculine pluralof Pharaohלְפַרְעֹ֖הH6547Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularin Egyptבְּמִצְרָ֑יִםH4714Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singularbut the LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularbrought us outוַיּוֹצִיאֵ֧נוּH3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common pluralof Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֖יִםH4714Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singularwith a mightyחֲזָקָֽה׃H2389Adjective - feminine singularhandבְּיָ֥דH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Exodus 3:20Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:34Classic cross-references Psalms 58:10Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 7:19Classic cross-references Genesis 15:14Classic cross-references

Original words

Before our eyesלְעֵינֵֽינוּ׃H5869Preposition-l | Noun - cdc | first person common pluralthe LORDיְהוָ֡הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularinflictedוַיִּתֵּ֣ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulargreatגְּדֹלִ֨יםH1419Adjective - masculine pluraland devastatingוְרָעִ֧ים׀H7451Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine pluralsignsאוֹתֹ֣תH226Noun - common pluraland wondersוּ֠מֹפְתִיםH4159Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralon Egyptבְּמִצְרַ֛יִםH4714Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singularon Pharaohבְּפַרְעֹ֥הH6547Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularand on allוּבְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructhis householdבֵּית֖וֹH1004Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 6:18Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 1:8Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 6:10Classic cross-references Exodus 13:5Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 7:1Classic cross-references

Original words

But He broughtהוֹצִ֣יאH3318Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularus outוְאוֹתָ֖נוּH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common pluralfrom thereמִשָּׁ֑םH8033Preposition-m | Adverbtoלְמַ֙עַן֙H4616Conjunctionlead us inהָבִ֣יאH935Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct-אֹתָ֔נוּH853Direct object marker | first person common pluraland giveלָ֤תֶתH5414Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructusלָ֙נוּ֙Preposition | first person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe landהָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeHe had swornנִשְׁבַּ֖עH7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto our fathersלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃H1Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural

Verse 24

Cross-references

Jeremiah 32:39Classic cross-references Psalms 41:2Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 10:12Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 10:13Classic cross-references Isaiah 3:10Classic cross-references

Original words

And the LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularcommanded usוַיְצַוֵּ֣נוּH6680Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common pluralto observeלַעֲשׂוֹת֙H6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructtheseהָאֵ֔לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common pluralstatutesהַחֻקִּ֣יםH2706Article | Noun - masculine pluraland to fearלְיִרְאָ֖הH3372Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularour Godאֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּH430Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralthat we may always be prosperousלְט֥וֹבH2896Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular. . .לָ֙נוּ֙Preposition | first person common plural. . .כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הַיָּמִ֔יםH3117Article | Noun - masculine pluraland preservedלְחַיֹּתֵ֖נוּH2421Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common pluralas [we are] to this dayכְּהַיּ֥וֹםH3117Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .הַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singular

Verse 25

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 24:13Classic cross-references Romans 10:3Classic cross-references Exodus 34:11Classic cross-references Genesis 2:9Classic cross-references James 2:10Classic cross-references

Original words

And if we are carefulנִשְׁמֹ֨רH8104Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluralto observeלַעֲשׂ֜וֹתH6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markereveryכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructone of theseהַזֹּ֗אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcommandmentsהַמִּצְוָ֣הH4687Article | Noun - feminine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֛יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularour Godאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּH430Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralasכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeHe has commanded usצִוָּֽנוּ׃סH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common pluralthen thatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionwill beתִּֽהְיֶה־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularourלָּ֑נוּPreposition | first person common pluralrighteousnessוּצְדָקָ֖הH6666Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular

Read full chapter context All Deuteronomy chapters

<- Deuteronomy 5 Deuteronomy 6 Deuteronomy 7 ->