Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse calls for a love of God that encompasses our entire being, not just our feelings, but also our mind (heart), our will and identity (soul), and all our capabilities and resources (might). It’s a call to undivided devotion, meaning every part of us is directed towards Him.
Moses is speaking to the new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, reiterating the core laws and commands. He's just declared that the LORD is one God and urged them to keep His statutes. This verse then lays out the fundamental principle behind all obedience: an all-encompassing love for God that encompasses every part of their being.
God isn't asking for a piece of your heart, but all of it. What does it mean to give Him your undivided attention?
This verse is rooted in the declaration, 'The LORD our God is one LORD.' Because God is uniquely one and the source of all goodness, our love for Him must also be singular and complete.
God doesn't just want your feelings; He wants your actions, your mind, and your very life. How does that change how we love Him?
The Hebrew words used for 'heart,' 'soul,' and 'might' paint a comprehensive picture of a person's entire being.
Understand the original words
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.
Jesus quotes this very command when asked about the greatest commandment, showing its enduring significance and placing it at the heart of true discipleship.
1 John 4:19This New Testament passage echoes the sentiment that our love for God is a response to His prior love for us, grounding our devotion in His initiative.
Romans 12:1Paul calls believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, a concept that powerfully illustrates the 'all your heart, soul, and might' devotion demanded in Deuteronomy.
Joshua 22:5This passage shows the Israelites being charged to 'love the LORD your God and walk in all his ways,' linking this core commandment directly to obedience and faithfulness in action.
gillDeuteronomy 6:5: "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God,.... Which is the first and chief commandment in the law, the sum and substance of the first table of it; and includes in it, or at least has connected with it, knowledge of God, esteem of him, delight in him, faith and trust in him, fear and worship of him, and obedience to him, which when right springs from it. God is to be loved bec…
clarkeDeuteronomy 6:5: "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Thou shalt love the Lord, etc. - Here we see the truth of that word of the apostle, 1 Timothy 1:5 : Now the End of the Commandment is Love out of a pure heart, etc. See the whole of the doctrine contained in this verse explained on Matthew 22:36-40 (note).
The verse calls for a love of God that encompasses our entire being, not just our feelings, but also our mind (heart), our will and identity (soul), and all our capabilities and resources (might). It’s a call to undivided devotion, meaning every part of us is directed towards Him.
Moses is speaking to the new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, reiterating the core laws and commands. He's just declared that the LORD is one God and urged them to keep His statutes. This verse then lays out the fundamental principle behind all obedience: an all-encompassing love for God that encompasses every part of their being.
Moses is speaking to the new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, reiterating the core laws and commands. He's just declared that the LORD is one God and urged them to keep His statutes. This verse then lays out the fundamental principle behind all obedience: an all-encompassing love for God that encompasses every part of their being.
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"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." — The verse calls for a love of God that encompasses our entire being, not just our feelings, but also our mind (heart), our will and identity (soul), and all our capabilities and resources (might). It…
