The Meaning of Deuteronomy 6:13 Explained

Deuteronomy 6:13

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

YLT: Jehovah thy God thou dost fear, and Him thou dost serve, and by His name thou dost swear;

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Deuteronomy 6:13 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 6:1-19 - How To Treat God's Words
Obedience is still the one condition of true prosperity and success. Lands still flow with milk and honey; and they live long who live well. Lives are measured by heart-throbs, and not by figures on the dial.
Deuteronomy 6:4 is reckoned by pious Jews as one of the choicest portions of Scripture. They write it on their phylacteries and repeat it, with other verses, at least twice a day. Note the various methods for maintaining the religious atmosphere: (1) by meditation; (2) by the religious training of children; (3) by pious discourse and conversation; (4) by the persistent study of Scripture. When books are scarce, use wall-texts; but never substitute stray snippets, however sweet, for the whole meal of Scripture.
Let us not forget how many of our present privileges and spiritual advantages must be credited to the prayers and the tears, the labors and the sufferings, of those who have left these precious inheritances to us, their children and heirs! We drink of cisterns we never hewed! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 6

1  The end of the law is obedience
3  An exhortation thereto
20  What they are to teach their children

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 6:13 mean?

- Yahweh your God You shall fear and Him serve and in His name shall take oaths
אֶת־ יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ תִּירָ֖א וְאֹת֣וֹ תַעֲבֹ֑ד 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.
וְאֹת֣וֹ  and  Him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
תַעֲבֹ֑ד  serve 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
וּבִשְׁמ֖וֹ  and  in  His  name 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
תִּשָּׁבֵֽעַ  shall  take  oaths 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.