Deuteronomy 6:4–9

In its context

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.

• הָיוּhayu· be, become, happen

  Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".

• דְּבָרִיםdevarim· word, matter, thing

  Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.

• מְצַוְּmetsav· command

  Command, give an order; give charge to someone.

• יּוֹםyom· day

  Day: the hours of light, or a whole day from one evening to the next. Also an indefinite time or age ("in the day that...", "in those days").

• שִׁנַּנְתָּshinanta· repeat, sharpen

  Repeat, impress: say something again and again so that it stays fixed; in its first sense, sharpen.

• בָנֶיvane· son

  Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).

• דִבַּרְתָּdibarta· speak

  Speak, talk, say; also promise or command.

• שִׁבְתְּshivt· sit, dwell

  Sit, sit down; from there stay in a place, live, dwell. In the causative form, settle someone, make to dwell. Also sit as judge or as king.

• בֵיתֶvete· house, household

  House. Also the family that lives in it ("the house of Noah") and someone's descendants ("the house of David"); also a temple, "the house of God".

• לֶכְתְּlecht· go, walk

  Go, walk, depart; in the causative form, lead or bring.

• דֶּרֶךְderech· way

  Way, road, journey. Figuratively, the way one lives or acts.

• שָׁכְבְּshachb· lie down

  Lie down: to sleep, or for sexual relations ("lie with"). "Lie down with one's fathers" is to die.

• קוּמֶkume· rise, stand, establish

  Rise, stand up; also stand firm, establish or fulfill something. "Rise against" is to attack.

• קְשַׁרְתָּkesharta· bind, conspire

  Bind, tie; conspire. The soul of one can be "bound" to another in love; of sheep, the strong ones.

• אוֹתot· sign

  Sign: something visible that serves to show or recall something else (a mark, a warning, a proof). The heavenly bodies are signs that mark days, seasons and years; in other passages it is an extraordinary deed by which God shows something.

• יָדֶyade· hand, power

  Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.

• טֹטָפֹתtotafot· frontlets

  Frontlets: something worn on the forehead as a reminder; the exact sense is uncertain.

• עֵינֶיene· eye

  Eye. "In someone's eyes" means "in his opinion"; "find favor in the eyes of" is to please him. Also a spring of water.

• כְתַבְתָּchetavta· write

  Write; also write down, record.

• מְזוּזֹתmezuzot· doorpost

  Doorpost: each of the two side posts of a door frame.

• שְׁעָרֶיsheare· gate

  Gate of a city. It was also the open place where the elders met, business was done and disputes were judged.