What Does Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Mean?
The law in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 defines the foundation of Israel’s faith: the oneness of God and the call to total love for Him. It says, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.' It was a personal call to wholehearted devotion as Israel entered the Promised Land. It set the tone for how God’s people were to live - centered on loving Him above all.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Law
Date
circa 1400 BC
Key Takeaways
- God is one; love Him with all you are.
- True faith starts in the heart, not just actions.
- Jesus affirms this as the greatest commandment ever.
The Shema in Its Covenant Setting
This command, known as the Shema, comes not in a moment of crisis but as part of a larger covenant renewal as Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land.
God reminds His people in Deuteronomy 6:1-3 that these commands are meant to shape their life in the land He promised - a land of abundance they didn’t earn. The call to love God wholeheartedly follows directly from His faithfulness in delivering them from Egypt and providing for them. This isn’t a cold rule from a distant deity, but a personal response to a God who has already shown deep love and power on their behalf.
The Shema, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,' is both a declaration of loyalty and a daily invitation to live with God at the center.
The Heart of Wholehearted Love: A Deep Look at the Words
The Shema’s call to love God with all our being becomes even richer when we unpack the original Hebrew words that shape this command.
The word 'echad' (one) in 'the Lord is one' means more than a number; it conveys unified oneness, like a married couple becoming 'one flesh' (Genesis 2:24). This points to God’s relational unity, a topic later explored in Second‑Temple debates about divine identity and the role of Wisdom or the Word (see John 1:1). 'Leb' (heart) refers to the mind, will, and core decision‑making center, not just emotions - our inner life. 'Nephesh' (soul) means the very breath of life, the self, the whole person - including desires and emotions. And 'me'od' (might) literally means 'muchness' or 'abundance,' suggesting physical strength as well as all your energy, resources, and intensity.
This isn’t a call to emotional overload but to total orientation: every thought, choice, desire, and effort aligned with loving God. Unlike other ancient law codes - like Hammurabi’s, which focused on social order and proportional punishment (eye for an eye) - this law targets the inner world, showing that true faithfulness starts within and overflows into action. God isn’t satisfied with rule‑following alone. He wants our full allegiance, shaped by gratitude for His deliverance, not fear of penalty.
Loving God with all your heart, soul, and might isn’t about perfection - it’s about direction.
The practical goal? To keep Israel from forgetting God in the comfort of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 6:10-12). When life gets easy, the heart drifts. So this command, repeated daily, was a spiritual safeguard. It also shaped how they raised their children (Deuteronomy 6:7), turning faith into a lived, shared reality across generations.
How Jesus Fulfills the Shema: Loving God with Everything
The call to love God with all our heart, soul, and might finds its perfect answer in Jesus, who lived that total devotion for us and calls us to follow Him.
Jesus said He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), and He did this by perfectly loving the Father with every thought, choice, and action - even to the point of death on the Cross. When we trust in Him, His perfect love counts for us, and by the Holy Spirit, He helps us grow in that same love.
So yes, Christians still honor this law - not as a burden to earn God’s favor, but as a response to the love Jesus has already shown. It’s no longer about trying harder on our own, but about letting Christ’s life shape ours, moment by moment.
The Greatest Commandment: Jesus’ Affirmation of the Shema
Jesus Himself highlights the enduring power of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 when He calls it the greatest commandment in the Law.
When asked which commandment is the most important, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:4-5 exactly: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind' (Matthew 22:37-38), showing that this ancient call to wholehearted love is still the foundation of a life pleasing to God.
Loving God with all your heart, soul, and might isn’t about perfection - it’s about direction.
This love - responsive, personal, and total - is not replaced in the New Testament but renewed, inviting us to live from gratitude, not guilt, as we follow the One who loved us first.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine starting your day not with a checklist, but with a quiet moment saying, 'God, You are my one true focus today.' That’s what the Shema invites us into. When life gets busy - work deadlines, family demands, the constant buzz of screens - it’s easy to drift into loving comfort, success, or approval more than God. But this command recalibrates everything. It’s not about guilt for falling short, but hope: every time we notice our hearts drifting, we get to choose again. We can pause, remember that God is one, that He loved us first, and recenter our thoughts and choices on Him. That small daily reorientation changes how we speak, decide, rest, and relate - it turns ordinary moments into acts of love.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my daily routine do I most easily forget to put God first?
- When was the last time I truly felt love for God as real affection rather than duty, and what sparked it?
- How can I, like the Israelites, pass this love for God on to others in my life this week, whether family, friends, or coworkers?
A Challenge For You
Each morning this week, take one minute to slowly read Deuteronomy 6:4-5 aloud and pray it back to God in your own words. Also, pick one ordinary part of your day - like your commute or lunch break - and use it as a reminder to pause and offer that moment to God as an act of love.
A Prayer of Response
Lord, You are one, and You alone are my God. Thank You for loving me first and calling me into a relationship with You. Help me love You with more than words or Sunday worship; love me with all my heart, soul, and strength through my choices, thoughts, and actions. When I get distracted by life’s noise, gently bring me back to You. Teach me to live each day as a response to Your great love.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Deuteronomy 6:1-3
Sets the stage by reminding Israel that God’s commands are for their good and life in the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Follows the Shema with practical instructions to teach and live God’s words daily.
Connections Across Scripture
John 1:1
Reveals the Word with God, echoing the unity and divine identity behind the Shema.
1 Corinthians 8:4
Affirms that 'God is one,' grounding Christian belief in the Shema’s truth.
James 2:19
Acknowledges monotheism but stresses that true faith produces action, not just belief.
Glossary
language
Shema
Hebrew for 'Hear,' the name for Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Israel’s daily confession of faith.
Echad
Hebrew word for 'one,' emphasizing God’s unified, relational oneness.
Leb
Hebrew for 'heart,' meaning the mind, will, and inner self, not just emotion.
Nephesh
Hebrew for 'soul,' referring to the whole person and life force.
Me'od
Hebrew for 'might,' meaning all one’s strength, resources, and intensity.