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Deuteronomy 6:5
“You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
This verse is part of the Shema, a central declaration of faith in Judaism, found in Moses' final address to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. It calls for total devotion to the one God.
What might it mean for you to love with 'all' your heart, soul, and might in your daily life?
Then — the setting
Deuteronomy was likely compiled and edited over centuries, reaching its final form around the 7th-6th centuries BCE. It presents itself as Moses' farewell speeches to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, on the cusp of entering Canaan. The command to love God wholeheartedly served as a foundational principle for their covenant relationship, distinguishing them from surrounding polytheistic cultures. This passage, the Shema, was recited daily by observant Jews and inscribed on doorposts (mezuzah) and phylacteries (tefillin), signifying its constant presence in life and thought.
Across the Testaments
The command in Deuteronomy 6:5 is a cornerstone of the Old Testament's ethical and theological framework, emphasizing monotheism and singular devotion. In the New Testament, Jesus affirms and elevates this command, quoting it as the 'greatest and first commandment' (Matthew 22:37-38, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27). Notably, in Mark, 'mind' (διάνοια, dianoia) is added, potentially emphasizing intellectual engagement alongside emotional, spiritual, and physical devotion. The New Testament also frequently connects loving God with loving one's neighbor (e.g., Mark 12:31; 1 John 4:20-21), showing that true devotion to God is inseparable from how one treats others.
Keep thinking
Read alongside it
Jesus identifies this as the 'greatest commandment,' echoing Deuteronomy directly.
Adds 'mind' to the command and pairs it with loving one's neighbor, linking devotion to God with ethical action.
Similar to Mark, a lawyer quotes this command, showing its centrality in Jewish thought and Jesus' affirmation.
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