Deuteronomy 6:4–5
Moses sums up Israel's faith: YHWH is one, and he is loved with the whole self
Study it word by word4Hear, Israel: YHWH our Elohim, YHWH is one.
5You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
In its context
2so that you may fear YHWH your Elohim, keeping all his statutes and his commandments that I am commanding you, you, your son, and your son’s son, all the days of your life, and so that your days may be long.
3Hear, Israel, and be careful to do it, so that it may go well with you and so that you may multiply greatly, as YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, has spoken to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
…
6These words that I am commanding you today shall be on your heart.
7You shall repeat them to your children and talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise.
Its words in the original
- שְׁמַעshema· hear, listen, obey
Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.
- יִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael· Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- אֱלֹהֵיelohe· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- אֶחָדechad· one
One; only, the same. Also "first" in a series.
- אָהַבְתָּahavta· love
Love, have affection for someone: a parent for a child, a husband for a wife, a friend for a friend, a person for God; also like, desire.
- לְבָבְlevav· heart
Heart: the inner part of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
- נַפְשְׁnafsh· soul, living being, life
A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.
- מְאֹדֶmeode· very, much
Very, greatly, exceedingly; a word that strengthens what goes with it. As a noun, strength, might.