The Meaning of Deuteronomy 10:20 Explained

Deuteronomy 10:20

KJV: Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

YLT: 'Jehovah thy God thou dost fear, Him thou dost serve, and to Him thou dost cleave, and by His name thou dost swear.

Darby: Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him thou shalt serve, and unto him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

ASV: Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt fear  the LORD  thy God;  him shalt thou serve,  and to him shalt thou cleave,  and swear  by his name. 

What does Deuteronomy 10:20 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 10:1-22 - What The Lord Requires Of Us
The second writing of the Law reminds us of the work wrought in us by the Holy Spirit. When first we hear the Law, we are condemned; but when we have repented and believed, God writes it on the fleshly tablets of our hearts, Hebrews 8:10. Together with this deepening love and delight in God's Law, we enter into the spiritual equivalent of Levi's calling, standing to minister, and blessing in God's name.
Every word of the magnificent parable from Deuteronomy 10:12 deserves careful pondering. Let us learn what God requires and then ask Him to create such things in us. As Augustine puts it: "Give what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt." But we must be willing to enter into the inner significance of the initial Jewish rite, which; is also taught in baptism, Romans 2:26-29; Colossians 2:11-12. The separation of Calvary's Cross leads to the filling of Pentecost! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 10

1  God's mercy in restoring the two tablets
6  in continuing the priesthood
8  in separating the tribe of Levi
10  in hearkening unto Moses' plea for his people
12  An exhortation to obedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 10:20 mean?

- Yahweh your God You shall fear Him you shall serve and to Him you shall hold fast and in His name take oaths
אֶת־ יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ תִּירָ֖א אֹת֣וֹ תַעֲבֹ֑ד וּב֣וֹ תִדְבָּ֔ק וּבִשְׁמ֖וֹ תִּשָּׁבֵֽעַ

אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֧ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
תִּירָ֖א  You  shall  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
תַעֲבֹ֑ד  you  shall  serve 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
וּב֣וֹ  and  to  Him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine singular
תִדְבָּ֔ק  you  shall  hold  fast 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַק  
Sense: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch.
וּבִשְׁמ֖וֹ  and  in  His  name 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
תִּשָּׁבֵֽעַ  take  oaths 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.