Deuteronomy 6:20
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The verse doesn't just present a child's question; it reveals God's intentional design for faith to be passed down through inquisitive dialogue. It highlights that the "testimonies, statutes, and rules" aren't arbitrary rules, but divine "witnesses" and "judgments" that contain profound meaning waiting to be explored. This sets the stage for a faith that is lived and understood, not just blindly followed.
“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes right after Moses has urged Israel to love the Lord with all their heart and to teach His commands diligently to their children. It sets up a future scenario where the next generation, living in the promised land, will naturally question the meaning behind the specific laws and statutes they are being asked to follow. Moses is instructing parents on how to explain the purpose and significance of these commands, connecting them back to God's redemptive actions and their own well-being.
Ever wondered why there are so many different words for God's commands? It's not just repetition, but different ways of understanding His will.
In this verse, Moses uses three distinct Hebrew terms to describe God's commands:
Together, these terms paint a rich picture of God's comprehensive Word, covering His character, His commands, and how we are to live them out.
This verse isn't just a command for parents; it's the beginning of a beautiful, multi-generational conversation about faith.
The question, 'What is the meaning of...' isn't just a child's idle curiosity. It's the spark for a crucial moment of discipleship. Moses anticipates a future generation asking for the 'why' behind their practices.
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This sets up a pattern for passing down faith:
This is the essence of a living faith tradition: it requires ongoing explanation, connection, and relevance for each new generation.
Understand the original words
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
Judicial decisions, ordinances, or legal judgments delivered by God to regulate the conduct of society and ensure justice in alignment with His will.
This passage describes a similar scenario where children ask about the meaning of memorial stones, prompting parents to explain God's mighty acts, echoing the questioning found in Deuteronomy.
Psalm 78:3-4This psalm explicitly states the importance of passing down God's deeds and teachings to the next generation, highlighting the need to explain the 'riddles of old' just as Deuteronomy 6:20 implies.
Proverbs 1:7This verse establishes that the fear of the Lord is the 'beginning of knowledge,' connecting the understanding of God's commands (Deuteronomy 6:20) to a foundational reverence for Him.
Matthew 22:36-40Jesus' summary of the Law, focusing on loving God and neighbor, provides the overarching 'meaning' behind the specific testimonies, statutes, and judgments mentioned in Deuteronomy.
gillDeuteronomy 6:20: "And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?"
And when thy son asketh thee in time to come,.... Or "tomorrow" (x); that is, in later times, as Jarchi interprets it; any time after this, and particularly after they were come into the land of Canaan, when the several laws, statutes, and ordinances appointed, would take place and be obeyed: what mean the testimonie…
clarkeDeuteronomy 6:20: "And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?"
And when thy son asketh thee, etc. - "Here," as Mr. Ainsworth justly remarks, "followeth a brief catechism, containing the grounds of religion." What mean the testimonies, etc. - The Hebrew language has no word to express to mean or signify, and therefore uses simply the substantive verb what is, i. e., what mean or…
The verse doesn't just present a child's question; it reveals God's intentional design for faith to be passed down through inquisitive dialogue. It highlights that the "testimonies, statutes, and rules" aren't arbitrary rules, but divine "witnesses" and "judgments" that contain profound meaning waiting to be explored. This sets the stage for a faith that is lived and understood, not just blindly followed.
This passage comes right after Moses has urged Israel to love the Lord with all their heart and to teach His commands diligently to their children. It sets up a future scenario where the next generation, living in the promised land, will naturally question the meaning behind the specific laws and statutes they are being asked to follow. Moses is instructing parents on how to explain the purpose and significance of these commands, connecting them back to God's redemptive actions and their own well-being.
This passage comes right after Moses has urged Israel to love the Lord with all their heart and to teach His commands diligently to their children. It sets up a future scenario where the next generation, living in the promised land, will naturally question the meaning behind the specific laws and statutes they are being asked to follow. Moses is instructing parents on how to explain the purpose and significance of these commands, connecting them back to God's redemptive actions and their own well-being.
"“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’" — The verse doesn't just present a child's question; it reveals God's intentional design for faith to be passed down through inquisitive dialogue. It highlights that the "testimonies, statutes, and rul…
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Last reviewed October 2026
