And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 6:6
What does Deuteronomy 6:6 mean?
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Deuteronomy 6:6
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The emphasis here isn't just on remembering God's words, but on them becoming the very core of your being – influencing your thoughts, affections, and deepest motivations. It’s a call to internalize these commands so thoroughly that they shape your entire inner life, not just your actions.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is delivering the final instructions to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, emphasizing the Shema ("Hear, O Israel...") and the profound love for God it demands. This exhortation to internalize God's commands and actively pass them on to the next generation is crucial for their faithfulness and survival in the new territory, lest they forget God amidst prosperity and adopt the ways of the surrounding nations.
We often think of the 'heart' as just a place for feelings. But in Scripture, it's far more profound.
When Deuteronomy says God's words should be 'on your heart,' it means much more than just liking them. The ancient understanding of the 'heart' was the center of a person's entire being: their thoughts, will, memory, and affections.
In a world constantly vying for our attention, how do we ensure God's commands remain central?
The command to keep God's words 'on your heart' isn't just a passive instruction; it's an active pursuit. It means making a conscious effort to internalize and prioritize what God has revealed.
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Understand the original words
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.
This passage echoes Deuteronomy's call for God's law to be internalized, describing a future covenant where God's law will be written on their hearts, showing a consistent theme of internal transformation.
Psalm 119:11The Psalmist declares, 'I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you,' directly connecting the idea of keeping God's words in one's heart to a life of obedience, just as Deuteronomy commands.
Proverbs 4:23This verse urges, 'Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life,' highlighting the heart as the core of a person's being and decision-making, which is exactly where Deuteronomy emphasizes these commands should reside.
Matthew 22:37Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5, stating that the greatest commandment is to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart,' underscoring that the 'words' commanded in Deuteronomy are fundamentally about cultivating a heart devoted to God.
gillDeuteronomy 6:6: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:"
And these words, which I command thee this day,.... To hearken to, observe, and take notice of, that God is one, and is to be loved in the strongest manner that possibly can be: shall be in thine heart; on the table of the heart, as the Targum of Jonathan; see 2 Corinthians 3:3, be cordially received, have a place in the affections of the heart, and be retained in mind and memory.
clarkeDeuteronomy 6:6: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:"
Shall be in thine heart - For where else can love be? If it be not in the heart, it exists not. And if these words be not in the heart - if they are not esteemed, prized, and received as a high and most glorious privilege, what hope is there that this love shall ever reign there?
The emphasis here isn't just on remembering God's words, but on them becoming the very core of your being – influencing your thoughts, affections, and deepest motivations. It’s a call to internalize these commands so thoroughly that they shape your entire inner life, not just your actions.
Moses is delivering the final instructions to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, emphasizing the Shema ("Hear, O Israel...") and the profound love for God it demands. This exhortation to internalize God's commands and actively pass them on to the next generation is crucial for their faithfulness and survival in the new territory, lest they forget God amidst prosperity and adopt the ways of the surrounding nations.
Moses is delivering the final instructions to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, emphasizing the Shema ("Hear, O Israel...") and the profound love for God it demands. This exhortation to internalize God's commands and actively pass them on to the next generation is crucial for their faithfulness and survival in the new territory, lest they forget God amidst prosperity and adopt the ways of the surrounding nations.
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart." — The emphasis here isn't just on remembering God's words, but on them becoming the very core of your being – influencing your thoughts, affections, and deepest motivations. It’s a call to internaliz…
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Last reviewed October 2026