The Meaning of Deuteronomy 6:17 Explained

Deuteronomy 6:17

KJV: Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

YLT: ye do diligently keep the commands of Jehovah your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes which He hath commanded thee,

Darby: Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

ASV: Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ye shall diligently  keep  the commandments  of the LORD  your God,  and his testimonies,  and his statutes,  which he hath commanded  thee. 

What does Deuteronomy 6:17 Mean?

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 6:17 mean?

Diligently You shall keep - the commandments of Yahweh your God and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you
שָׁמ֣וֹר תִּשְׁמְר֔וּן אֶת־ מִצְוֺ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְעֵדֹתָ֥יו וְחֻקָּ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽךְ

שָׁמ֣וֹר  Diligently 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
תִּשְׁמְר֔וּן  You  shall  keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
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.
מִצְוֺ֖ת  the  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
יְהוָ֣ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְעֵדֹתָ֥יו  and  His  testimonies 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: testimony, witness.
וְחֻקָּ֖יו  and  His  statutes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֹק  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.
צִוָּֽךְ  He  has  commanded  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.