Deuteronomy 6:3
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The promise of "multiplying greatly" isn't just about numbers; it's directly tied to their faithfulness to God's commands. This wasn't an automatic blessing for simply inhabiting the land, but a direct consequence of their obedience, a fulfillment of the ancient covenant with their fathers.
Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is speaking to the people of Israel just before they are about to enter the Promised Land, reminding them of the commandments God gave them through him. He emphasizes that their continued well-being and prosperity in that land, as promised by God, hinges on their faithful obedience to these divine instructions. This verse serves as a direct call to action, linking their future success and multiplication in Canaan to their attentive practice of God's law.
God's promises in the land are directly tied to Israel's response. It's not just about listening, but about actively living out what they hear.
The verse begins with "Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them." This is the heart of the covenant relationship.
The Command to Hear:
The Command to Do:
What does it truly mean for things to 'go well' and to 'multiply greatly'? This verse connects these tangible blessings directly to faithfulness.
The verse promises two key outcomes for Israel's obedience:
'That it may go well with you':
Ask a follow-up
'That you may multiply greatly':
The 'land flowing with milk and honey' wasn't just a nice place to live; it was the very stage where God's covenant promises would unfold.
The description of the land as 'flowing with milk and honey' is a powerful metaphor.
A Land of Abundance:
The Scene of Covenant:
Understand the original words
shama' · Hebrew Verb
A command to pay close attention with the intent to obey; it implies listening, understanding, and actively responding to God's word.
chalab u-debash · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A metaphorical description of a land characterized by abundance, prosperity, and divine blessing provided by God to His people.
This passage echoes Deuteronomy's call to obedience by linking courage and success in entering the promised land to meditating on and carefully following God's Law.
Jeremiah 7:3-7Jeremiah reiterates the conditional nature of dwelling in the land, directly linking it to 'doing justice and righteousness' and not oppressing the sojourner, stranger, fatherless, or widow, mirroring the emphasis on obedience in Deuteronomy.
Matthew 7:24-27Jesus uses a similar metaphor of building a house on rock versus sand to illustrate the vital importance of not just hearing God's words, but putting them into practice for true stability and well-being.
1 Corinthians 10:11Paul references Israel's experiences as examples, highlighting that their falls and punishments served as warnings for believers, emphasizing that obedience to God's commands is crucial for spiritual progress and avoiding ruin.
gillDeuteronomy 6:3: "Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey."
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it,.... Or them, the commandments given them: that it may be well with thee; in body and estate: and that ye may increase mightily; not only in wealth and riches, but chiefly in numbers: as the Lord God of thy fathers hath pr…
clarkeDeuteronomy 6:3: "Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey."
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it - Literally, Ye shall hear, O Israel, and thou shalt keep to do them. 1. God is to be heard; no obligation without law to found it on, and no law in religion but from God. 2. The commandment must be understood in order to…
The promise of "multiplying greatly" isn't just about numbers; it's directly tied to their faithfulness to God's commands. This wasn't an automatic blessing for simply inhabiting the land, but a direct consequence of their obedience, a fulfillment of the ancient covenant with their fathers.
Moses is speaking to the people of Israel just before they are about to enter the Promised Land, reminding them of the commandments God gave them through him. He emphasizes that their continued well-being and prosperity in that land, as promised by God, hinges on their faithful obedience to these divine instructions. This verse serves as a direct call to action, linking their future success and multiplication in Canaan to their attentive practice of God's law.
Moses is speaking to the people of Israel just before they are about to enter the Promised Land, reminding them of the commandments God gave them through him. He emphasizes that their continued well-being and prosperity in that land, as promised by God, hinges on their faithful obedience to these divine instructions. This verse serves as a direct call to action, linking their future success and multiplication in Canaan to their attentive practice of God's law.
"Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey." — The promise of "multiplying greatly" isn't just about numbers; it's directly tied to their faithfulness to God's commands. This wasn't an automatic blessing for simply inhabiting the land, but a dire…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
