CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/6-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/05_Deu_06_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Greatest Commandment" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/deuteronomy/6-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/deuteronomy/6-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/">Deuteronomy</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/6.htm">Chapter 6</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-3.htm" title="Deuteronomy 6:3">◄</a> Deuteronomy 6:4 <a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm" title="Deuteronomy 6:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God <i>is</i> one LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD <i>is</i> one!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Hear, Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/deuteronomy/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one [the only God]!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/deuteronomy/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/deuteronomy/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/deuteronomy/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Listen, Israel! The LORD our God is the only true God! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/deuteronomy/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God. The LORD is the only God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Israel, remember this! The LORD--and the LORD alone--is our God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/deuteronomy/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Listen, Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/deuteronomy/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/deuteronomy/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Hear, Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/deuteronomy/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: Our God YHWH—YHWH [is] one!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/deuteronomy/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Hear, Israel; Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Listen, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Hear, Israel: LORD JEHOVAH our God, LORD JEHOVAH is one:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/deuteronomy/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=1979" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/6.htm">The Greatest Commandment</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: šə·maʿ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">Hear,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">O Israel:</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">The LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū (N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">our God,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ʾɛ·ḥå̄ḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">is One.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-29.htm">Mark 12:29-30</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. / Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37</a></span><br />Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/17-3.htm">John 17:3</a></span><br />Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a></span><br />So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-19.htm">James 2:19</a></span><br />You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-30.htm">Romans 3:30</a></span><br />since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-4.htm">Ephesians 4:4-6</a></span><br />There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; / one Lord, one faith, one baptism; / one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-20.htm">Galatians 3:20</a></span><br />A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/2-5.htm">1 Timothy 2:5</a></span><br />For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/10-30.htm">John 10:30</a></span><br />I and the Father are one.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-5.htm">Isaiah 45:5-6</a></span><br />I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me, / so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-6.htm">Isaiah 44:6</a></span><br />Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/43-10.htm">Isaiah 43:10-11</a></span><br />“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come. / I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/14-9.htm">Zechariah 14:9</a></span><br />On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/86-10.htm">Psalm 86:10</a></span><br />For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:</p><p class="hdg">the Lord</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/4-35.htm">Deuteronomy 4:35,36</a></b></br> Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he <i>is</i> God; <i>there is</i> none else beside him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/5-6.htm">Deuteronomy 5:6</a></b></br> I <i>am</i> the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/18-21.htm">1 Kings 18:21</a></b></br> And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD <i>be</i> God, follow him: but if Baal, <i>then</i> follow him. And the people answered him not a word.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/6-3.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-3.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-3.htm">Israel</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/8-20.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/9-1.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/9-1.htm">Israel</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-1.htm">The end of the law is obedience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-3.htm">An exhortation thereto</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-20.htm">What they are to teach their children</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/6.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Hear, O Israel</b><br />The Hebrew word for "hear" is "Shema," which means to listen, to heed, or to obey. This is not merely a call to auditory reception but an invitation to active engagement and response. The phrase "O Israel" identifies the audience as the chosen people of God, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Historically, this call to attention is significant as it underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It is a reminder of their identity and their unique role as God's people, set apart to be a light to the nations.<p><b>The LORD</b><br />The term "LORD" in all capital letters is a translation of the Hebrew name "YHWH" (Yahweh), the personal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (<a href="/exodus/3-14.htm">Exodus 3:14</a>). This name signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His covenantal faithfulness. In the context of Deuteronomy, it emphasizes God's unchanging character and His sovereign authority over Israel. The use of this name is a reminder of God's intimate relationship with His people and His commitment to them.<p><b>our God</b><br />The phrase "our God" indicates a personal and communal relationship. The Hebrew word for God here is "Elohim," a plural form that denotes majesty and power. This plurality within unity hints at the complexity of God's nature, which Christians understand more fully in the doctrine of the Trinity. The possessive "our" signifies that God is not a distant deity but one who is actively involved in the lives of His people, guiding, protecting, and providing for them.<p><b>the LORD is One</b><br />The declaration "the LORD is One" is a profound theological statement affirming the monotheistic essence of the Hebrew faith. The Hebrew word for "one" is "echad," which can denote a compound unity. This oneness speaks to God's indivisibility and uniqueness, setting Him apart from the polytheistic beliefs of surrounding nations. For conservative Christians, this verse is foundational, affirming the belief in one God who is sovereign over all creation. It calls believers to exclusive devotion and love for God, as further expounded in the following verses of <a href="/deuteronomy/6.htm">Deuteronomy 6</a>.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/deuteronomy/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4, 5) <span class= "bld">Hear, O Israel . . .</span>--These two verses are styled by our Lord "the first and great commandment" in the Law. The first words of the Talmud concern the hours when this form should be recited in daily morning or evening prayer--"Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah" The unity of Jehovah, as opposed to the belief in "gods many and lords many," is the key-note of the Jewish faith. "<span class= "ital">We </span>worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity." But this truth, though visible in the Old Testament by the light of the New, was not explicitly revealed until it came forth in history, when the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world, and both sent the Holy Spirit to represent Him in the Church.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 4-25.</span> - THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT. "In the fear of Jehovah all true obedience is rooted (vers. 2, 3); for this is the first and most intimate fact in the relation of Israel and Jehovah (<a href="/deuteronomy/5-26.htm">Deuteronomy 5:26</a>). But where the supreme fear of Jehovah hinders men from allowing self to preponderate in opposition to God, there will be no stopping at this renunciation of self-will, though this comes first as the negative form of the ten commandments also shows, but there will come to be a coalescence of the human with the Divine will; and this is love, which is the proper condition of obedience, as the ten commandments also indicate (<a href="/deuteronomy/5-10.htm">Deuteronomy 5:10</a>)" (Baumgarten). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.</span> This is an affirmation not so much of the <span class="accented">moneity</span> as of the <span class="accented">unity</span> and <span class="accented">simplicity</span> of Jehovah, the alone God. Though Elohim (plu.), he is one. The speaker does not say, "Jehovah is alone God," but "Jehovah our Elohim is one Jehovah" (comp. for the force of <span class="hebrew">אֶחָד</span>, <a href="/exodus/26-6.htm">Exodus 26:6, 11</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/37-16.htm">Ezekiel 37:16-19</a>). Among the heathen there were many Baals and many Jupiters; and it was believed that the deity might be divided and communicated to many. But the God of Israel, Jehovah, is one, indivisible and incommunicable. He is the Absolute and the Infinite One, who alone is to be worshipped, on whom all depend, and to whose command all must yield obedience (cf. <a href="/zechariah/14-9.htm">Zechariah 14:9</a>). Not only to polytheism, but to pantheism, and to the conception of a localized or national deity, is this declaration of the unity of Jehovah opposed. With these words the Jews begin their daily liturgy, morning and evening; the sentence expresses the essence of their religious belief; and so familiar is it to their thought and speech that, it is said, they were often, during the persecution in Spain, betrayed to their enemies by the involuntary utterance of it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Hear,</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמַ֖ע‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(šə·ma‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hear intelligently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">O Israel:</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">The LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">our God,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֥ה ׀</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is One.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶחָֽד׃‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(’e·ḥāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear Israel: Yahweh is our God (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 6:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 6:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 6:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 6:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>