The LORD Is One
Passage: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
The Shema is Israel's central confession, recited daily.
Overview
There is only one God. Israel was to love him with all their heart, soul and might and teach this to their children.
Going deeper
Christian faith in the Trinity never denies the Shema. Jesus calls it the first commandment (Mark 12:29).
Key verses (KJV)
- Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart.
From the commentaries
20-25. when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying—The directions given for the instruction of their children form only an extension of the preceding counsels.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871)
Verse 4 Hear, O Israel - שמע ישראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד shema Yisrael, Yehovah Eloheinu, Yehovah achad. These words may be variously rendered into English; but almost all possible verbal varieties in the translation (and there can be none other) amount to the same sense: "Israel, hear! Jehovah, our God, is one Jehovah;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah alone;" or, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah who is one;" or, "Jehovah, who is our God, is the one Being." On this verse the Jews lay great stress; it is one of the four passages which they write on their phylacteries, and they write the last letter in the first and last words very large, for the purpose o
Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary (1810-1826)
4. Hear, O Israel. When Moses proclaims that God is One, the statement is not confined to His sole essence, which is incomprehensible, but must be also understood of His power and glory, which had been manifested to the people; as though he had said, that they would be guilty of rebellion unless they abode in the One God, who had laid them under such obligations to Himself. Therefore he not only calls him Jehovah, but at the same time infers that He is the God of that people whom he addresses, “Thy God.” Thus all other deities are brought to nought, and the people are commanded to fly and detest whatever withdraws their minds from the pure knowledge of Him; ...
John Calvin, John Calvin's Commentaries (16th century, Calvin Translation Society, 1840s-1850s)
Application
- Why does oneness matter for worship?
- How does 1 Corinthians 8:6 echo this?
- Teach v4-5 to someone younger.