Deuteronomy 6:1
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The verse doesn't just list commandments; it presents them as a unified "commandment" that encompasses all the specific statutes and rules. This highlights that obedience isn't just about following individual laws, but about embracing a whole way of life commanded by God for their new existence in the promised land.
“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just after recapping the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, Moses is about to lay out the laws that will govern Israel as they prepare to enter and live in the Promised Land. This isn't just a legal code; it's a guide for their relationship with God and each other, designed to ensure their well-being and continued possession of the land He is giving them. The verses that follow will delve into the core principles of loving and obeying God, and how to pass this heritage on to future generations.
Moses introduces a whole series of instructions. But are these just random rules? Or is there something bigger at play?
In Deuteronomy 6:1, Moses uses three terms: "commandment" (or "charge"), "statutes," and "rules." While they might seem like different categories of law, they all point to one overarching purpose.
The crucial insight is that these aren't separate burdens. The statutes and rules are all expressions of the one great 'commandment' – the covenant relationship and the life it calls for. The goal isn't just to follow a list of do's and don'ts, but to live out a unified life of devotion to God, a life distinguished by His presence and way.
Moses emphasizes why they must obey these laws. It's tied directly to their future. What does this connection tell us?
The verse states the laws are given "that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it." This isn't just about survival; it's about thriving and belonging.
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Understand the original words
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
A divine directive or instruction given by God to His people, intended for their obedience and holiness. It represents the binding authority of God's will.
choq · Hebrew Noun
Divine laws or decrees enacted by God, often referring to specific ordinances given to Israel to regulate their worship, justice, and social life.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
Judicial decisions or ordinances that regulate behavior, often emphasizing justice and right living within the covenant community.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God (Yahweh), signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful presence with His people.
This passage directly quotes and expands on the Shema found in Deuteronomy 6:5, emphasizing that the core of God's commandment is to love Him with our whole being, highlighting the centrality of this command to loving God.
Matthew 22:37-38Jesus identifies the command to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, originating from Deuteronomy 6:5, as the greatest and first commandment, underscoring its supreme importance in God's law.
Deuteronomy 6:5This verse immediately follows the one you provided and contains the foundational command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might, which is the very essence of the commandments Moses is about to teach.
Jeremiah 10:23-24This passage expresses the prophet's reliance on God's guidance, acknowledging that human plans are not their own and that only God can direct steps, reflecting the spirit of seeking God's commands for direction.
Joshua 1:8This verse echoes the importance of the Law (commandments, statutes, and rules) by instructing Joshua to meditate on it day and night, ensuring success and prosperity as he leads Israel into the promised land, similar to the purpose stated in Deuteronomy 6:1.
clarkeDeuteronomy 6:1: "Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:"
Now these are the commandments, etc. - See the difference between commandments, statutes, judgments, etc., pointed out, Leviticus 26:15 (note). Do them - That is, live in the continual practice of them; for by this they were to be distinguished from all the nations of the world, and all these were to be…
gillDeuteronomy 6:1: "Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:"
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments,.... Not the ten commandments repeated in the preceding chapter, but all others, whether moral, ceremonial, or judicial, afterwards declared; for what Moses now did was only to give a repetition and fresh declaration of such laws as he had…
The verse doesn't just list commandments; it presents them as a unified "commandment" that encompasses all the specific statutes and rules. This highlights that obedience isn't just about following individual laws, but about embracing a whole way of life commanded by God for their new existence in the promised land.
Just after recapping the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, Moses is about to lay out the laws that will govern Israel as they prepare to enter and live in the Promised Land. This isn't just a legal code; it's a guide for their relationship with God and each other, designed to ensure their well-being and continued possession of the land He is giving them. The verses that follow will delve into the core principles of loving and obeying God, and how to pass this heritage on to future generations.
Just after recapping the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, Moses is about to lay out the laws that will govern Israel as they prepare to enter and live in the Promised Land. This isn't just a legal code; it's a guide for their relationship with God and each other, designed to ensure their well-being and continued possession of the land He is giving them. The verses that follow will delve into the core principles of loving and obeying God, and how to pass this heritage on to future generations.
"“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it," — The verse doesn't just list commandments; it presents them as a unified "commandment" that encompasses all the specific statutes and rules. This highlights that obedience isn't just about following i…
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Last reviewed October 2026
