What Does Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Mean?
The law in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 defines how God's commands are to live deep in our hearts and flow into everyday life. It calls us to internalize His words and pass them on constantly - to talk about them at home, on the road, at bedtime, and in the morning. This isn’t about rituals alone, but about a lifestyle shaped by love for God and His truth.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Law
Date
Approximately 1400 BC
Key People
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- God’s words should shape every daily moment.
- Faith is passed through consistent, ordinary conversations.
- Love for God fuels obedience and teaching.
Context of Deuteronomy 6:6-7
These verses come at the heart of a larger call for whole-life devotion to God as Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land.
God reminded the people of the Ten Commandments and declared the truth that 'the Lord our God, the Lord is one,' calling them to love and loyalty. In Deuteronomy 6:6‑7, He tells them to keep His words deep in their hearts and to share them constantly, both in formal settings and everyday moments such as at home, on the road, at bedtime, and in the morning.
This isn’t about memorizing rules. It’s about making God’s truth part of daily life so the next generation grows up knowing Him naturally.
Meaning of 'Teach Diligently' in Deuteronomy 6:7
The command to 'teach them diligently' isn’t about formal lessons, but about weaving God’s truth into the rhythm of daily life.
The Hebrew word *šānan* - 'teach diligently' - means to repeat or sharpen, like whetting a blade. It suggests constant, repeated practice, not one-time instruction. This wasn’t about rare religious events, but about parents naturally talking about God’s commands during ordinary moments: at the dinner table, on family walks, at bedtime, and over breakfast.
Faith isn’t meant to be locked in a classroom - it’s for meals, walks, and bedtime stories.
Unlike other ancient cultures where religious knowledge was guarded by priests or elites, Israel was called to make every home a place of learning. God’s ways weren’t reserved for temples or ceremonies - they belonged in everyday conversations. This law reveals God’s heart: He wants relationship, not ritual. He wants closeness, not control.
How Jesus Fulfills the Call to Live and Pass on God's Words
Jesus perfectly lived out Deuteronomy 6:6-7 by fully loving God with all His heart, soul, and strength, and by constantly teaching others about the Father’s truth.
He didn’t keep God’s words only in His heart - He was the Word of God in person, walking among us. And He taught His followers to pass on His teachings to all nations, saying, 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you' (Matthew 28:19-20).
So while Christians are not bound by the Old Testament law as a set of rules for earning God’s favor, we still follow this command in a deeper way - by living in Christ’s love and sharing His message with our families and the world.
How Jesus Affirms the Heart of God's Command
Building on Jesus’ perfect obedience and teaching, He also shows us the deep heart behind commands like Deuteronomy 6:6-7 by pointing back to their core truth.
When asked which commandment is the greatest, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 directly: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment' (Matthew 22:37-38). He doesn’t treat this as an outdated rule but as the foundation of all faithful living - showing that God has always desired wholehearted love, not merely outward compliance.
Loving God with all our heart isn’t just a rule - it’s the heartbeat of a life lived with Him.
Today, this means shaping our daily routines around love for God - rather than only teaching our kids Bible verses, we share how we’re learning to trust God in hard times, discuss His goodness at dinner, or read Scripture together before bed.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I used to think passing on faith meant getting my kids to memorize verses or behave in church. But this passage hit me: it’s not about perfection, it’s about presence. It’s in the messy moments - when I’m stressed and snap at my family, or when I pause to thank God for dinner even though the day was hard - that my kids learn what faith really looks like. When I choose to talk about how God helped me that day, or admit I’m struggling and need His strength, I’m not teaching a lesson - I’m living one. That’s when faith stops being a subject and starts being a life.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my daily routine could I naturally talk about God’s love or truth with someone close to me?
- When was the last time I shared more than a Bible verse - how it’s shaping my heart or choices?
- What’s one small way I can make God’s words more visible or regular in my home this week?
A Challenge For You
Pick one ordinary moment this week - like driving, eating, or bedtime - and use it to talk about God’s truth. Share a short story of how you’ve seen God at work, or read one verse together and ask, 'What does this tell us about God?'
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you that your words are more than rules; they are a way to stay close to you. Help me carry them in my heart, not only in my head. Show me simple ways to share them with the people I love every day. Give me courage to be real, to speak of you in the ordinary moments, and to live in a way that points others to your love.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Introduces the Shema and the call to love God completely, setting the spiritual foundation for internalizing His commands.
Deuteronomy 6:8-9
Extends the command by instructing visible reminders of God's words on hands, forehead, doors, and gates.
Connections Across Scripture
Joshua 1:8
Reinforces constant meditation on God’s law as key to success and faithfulness.
Psalm 78:5-7
Highlights God’s command to teach future generations so they trust and obey Him.
2 Timothy 3:14-15
Paul commends Timothy for learning Scripture from childhood, showing early faith formation in action.