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

20 In 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?”

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

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

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

24 And 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.

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

Original words

In the future מָחָ֖ר H4279 Adverb when כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction your son בִנְךָ֛ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular asks יִשְׁאָלְךָ֥ H7592 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct What מָ֣ה H4100 Interrogative is the meaning of the decrees הָעֵדֹ֗ת H5713 Article | Noun - feminine plural and statutes וְהַֽחֻקִּים֙ H2706 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural and ordinances וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים H4941 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular our God אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural - אֶתְכֶֽם׃ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural has commanded you צִוָּ֛ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

then you are to tell וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular him לְבִנְךָ֔ H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular We were הָיִ֥ינוּ H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural slaves עֲבָדִ֛ים H5650 Noun - masculine plural of Pharaoh לְפַרְעֹ֖ה H6547 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular in Egypt בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם H4714 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular but the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular brought us out וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֧נוּ H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural of Egypt מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם H4714 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular with a mighty חֲזָקָֽה׃ H2389 Adjective - feminine singular hand בְּיָ֥ד H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

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

Original words

Before our eyes לְעֵינֵֽינוּ׃ H5869 Preposition-l | Noun - cdc | first person common plural the LORD יְהוָ֡ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular inflicted וַיִּתֵּ֣ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular great גְּדֹלִ֨ים H1419 Adjective - masculine plural and devastating וְרָעִ֧ים׀ H7451 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural signs אוֹתֹ֣ת H226 Noun - common plural and wonders וּ֠מֹפְתִים H4159 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural on Egypt בְּמִצְרַ֛יִם H4714 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular on Pharaoh בְּפַרְעֹ֥ה H6547 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular and on all וּבְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct his household בֵּית֖וֹ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

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

Original words

But He brought הוֹצִ֣יא H3318 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular us out וְאוֹתָ֖נוּ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common plural from there מִשָּׁ֑ם H8033 Preposition-m | Adverb to לְמַ֙עַן֙ H4616 Conjunction lead us in הָבִ֣יא H935 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct - אֹתָ֔נוּ H853 Direct object marker | first person common plural and give לָ֤תֶת H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct us לָ֙נוּ֙ Preposition | first person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the land הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative He had sworn נִשְׁבַּ֖ע H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to our fathers לַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural

Verse 24

Cross-references

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

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular commanded us וַיְצַוֵּ֣נוּ H6680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural to observe לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct these הָאֵ֔לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural statutes הַחֻקִּ֣ים H2706 Article | Noun - masculine plural and to fear לְיִרְאָ֖ה H3372 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular our God אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural that we may always be prosperous לְט֥וֹב H2896 Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular . . . לָ֙נוּ֙ Preposition | first person common plural . . . כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . הַיָּמִ֔ים H3117 Article | Noun - masculine plural and preserved לְחַיֹּתֵ֖נוּ H2421 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common plural as [we are] to this day כְּהַיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular

Verse 25

Cross-references

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

Original words

And if we are careful נִשְׁמֹ֨ר H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural to observe לַעֲשׂ֜וֹת H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker every כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct one of these הַזֹּ֗את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular commandments הַמִּצְוָ֣ה H4687 Article | Noun - feminine singular before לִפְנֵ֛י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular our God אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural as כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative He has commanded us צִוָּֽנוּ׃ס H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural then that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction will be תִּֽהְיֶה־ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular our לָּ֑נוּ Preposition | first person common plural righteousness וּצְדָקָ֖ה H6666 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular

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