Deuteronomy 6:5-7
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This commandment isn't just about strong feelings; it's a call to undivided allegiance. The phrasing "all your heart and all your soul and all your might" emphasizes that every part of your being—your thoughts, your will, your passions, and your actions—is meant to be devoted to God, leaving no room for divided loyalties.
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. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This commandment follows immediately after the foundational declaration that "The LORD our God, the LORD is one," establishing the unique and singular nature of God. The preceding verses emphasize obedience and remembrance of God's laws for Israel's well-being and to pass them on to future generations. Therefore, this verse isn't just a nice sentiment; it's the core principle that's meant to drive all of Israel's actions and devotion towards their one God.
What does it really mean to 'love' God? It's more than just a feeling; it's the foundation for everything else in our relationship with Him.
In Deuteronomy 6:5, the command to 'love the LORD your God' isn't just about affection. It's presented as the fundamental response to who God is and what He has done.
God doesn't ask for a piece of you; He asks for all of you. What does that look like in practice?
The verse breaks down 'all' into three key areas: heart, soul, and might. This isn't redundant; it's comprehensive:
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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.
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.
shanan · Hebrew Verb
The act of instructing or training another in wisdom, law, or truth, often implying repetition or thoroughness to ensure understanding and obedience.
Jesus directly quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 when asked about the greatest commandment, highlighting its foundational importance for both Old and New Testament faith.
1 John 4:19This passage explains the believer's love for God as a response to His prior, initiating love, echoing the sentiment that God's nature and actions are the ultimate reason for our devotion.
Romans 12:1Paul calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, a spiritual act of worship that reflects the total self-surrender commanded in Deuteronomy 6:5, encompassing all aspects of our being.
Mark 12:30Mark's parallel account of Jesus' teaching adds 'understanding' to the commandment, emphasizing that loving God with all our faculties involves intentional, thoughtful devotion, not just emotion.
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).
This commandment isn't just about strong feelings; it's a call to undivided allegiance. The phrasing "all your heart and all your soul and all your might" emphasizes that every part of your being—your thoughts, your will, your passions, and your actions—is meant to be devoted to God, leaving no room for divided loyalties.
This commandment follows immediately after the foundational declaration that "The LORD our God, the LORD is one," establishing the unique and singular nature of God. The preceding verses emphasize obedience and remembrance of God's laws for Israel's well-being and to pass them on to future generations. Therefore, this verse isn't just a nice sentiment; it's the core principle that's meant to drive all of Israel's actions and devotion towards their one God.
This commandment follows immediately after the foundational declaration that "The LORD our God, the LORD is one," establishing the unique and singular nature of God. The preceding verses emphasize obedience and remembrance of God's laws for Israel's well-being and to pass them on to future generations. Therefore, this verse isn't just a nice sentiment; it's the core principle that's meant to drive all of Israel's actions and devotion towards their one God.
"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. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them…" — This commandment isn't just about strong feelings; it's a call to undivided allegiance. The phrasing "all your heart and all your soul and all your might" emphasizes that every part of your being—you…
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Last reviewed October 2026
