Deuteronomy 6:4-6
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The verse isn't just a declaration of God's singular existence against polytheism, but a profound assertion that He is our God – uniquely chosen and covenanted to Israel. It establishes not just that God is one, but that this one God is their exclusive possession and object of devotion.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is about to deliver the core of Israel's identity and covenant, setting the stage for the laws and instructions that follow. This foundational declaration of God's unique oneness is presented as the bedrock upon which all future obedience and love for God will be built, immediately preceding the command to love the Lord with all their being.
This verse is more than a simple statement of God's unity. It's a profound declaration about who deserves our ultimate allegiance.
The declaration 'The LORD our God, the LORD is one' (or 'Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one') is the foundational creed of Judaism, known as the Shema. It's not just about God being numerically one, but about His absolute uniqueness and supremacy.
While asserting God's oneness, this verse also opens the door to deeper mysteries about His very being.
The Hebrew word for 'one' (echad) in this verse is significant. While it can mean a simple numerical one, it can also convey a 'composite' or 'united' oneness, like a team or a complex whole.
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Understand the original words
echad · Hebrew Adjective/Number
A statement asserting the absolute uniqueness and singularity of God; He is the only true God, and He is unified in His nature and purpose.
ahav · Hebrew Verb
A deep, covenantal commitment and active devotion that encompasses the entirety of a person's being, will, and emotional life.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
The inner person, including the mind, will, intellect, and moral decisions; it is the center of human agency and devotion.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The inner life, breath, or essence of a person; it represents the seat of life and the deepest aspects of the human personality.
me'od · Hebrew Noun/Adverb
The strength, intensity, or abundance of one's resources, emphasizing that devotion to God must be total and exhaustive.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
The core of a person's being, including the intellect, will, emotions, and moral character; the seat of decision-making and spiritual allegiance.
Jesus Himself quotes this verse as the 'first and great commandment,' highlighting its supreme importance in defining our relationship with God.
1 Corinthians 8:4Paul echoes this Shema's core truth, affirming that while other 'gods' may be named, there is ultimately only one true God, underscoring the uniqueness of the LORD.
John 1:1This passage introduces the Word (Jesus) as being 'with God' and 'God,' hinting at the complex truth of the Trinity within the singular unity of God declared here.
Isaiah 44:6This prophecy from Isaiah reinforces the concept of God's singular authority and eternality, stating 'I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god,' aligning with the Shema's declaration.
John 10:30Jesus' declaration, 'I and the Father are one,' directly connects to the understanding of God's unity while also alluding to the plurality within that oneness, as understood in relation to this foundational verse.
gillDeuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"
Hear, O Israel,.... These are the words of Moses, stirring up the people to an attention to what he was about to say of this great and momentous article, the unity of God, to prevent their going into polytheism and idolatry. From one of the words here used, the Jews call this section Kiriathshema, which they oblige themselves to read twice a day, morning and evening (n); the last letter of the first word in this verse, "Shema", me…
clarkeDeuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"
Hear, O Israel - שמע ישראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד shema Yisrael, Yehovah Eloheinu, Yehovah achad. These words may be variously rendered into English; but almost all possible verbal varieties in the translation (and there can be none other) amount to the same sense: "Israel, hear! Jehovah, our God, is one Jehovah;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah alone;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah who…
The verse isn't just a declaration of God's singular existence against polytheism, but a profound assertion that He is our God – uniquely chosen and covenanted to Israel. It establishes not just that God is one, but that this one God is their exclusive possession and object of devotion.
Moses is about to deliver the core of Israel's identity and covenant, setting the stage for the laws and instructions that follow. This foundational declaration of God's unique oneness is presented as the bedrock upon which all future obedience and love for God will be built, immediately preceding the command to love the Lord with all their being.
Moses is about to deliver the core of Israel's identity and covenant, setting the stage for the laws and instructions that follow. This foundational declaration of God's unique oneness is presented as the bedrock upon which all future obedience and love for God will be built, immediately preceding the command to love the Lord with all their being.
"“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart." — The verse isn't just a declaration of God's singular existence against polytheism, but a profound assertion that He is our God – uniquely chosen and covenanted to Israel. It establishes not just…
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Last reviewed October 2026
