You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name. You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, for Yahweh your God among you is a jealous God, lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
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Deuteronomy 6:13-15 sits inside this longer paragraph.
It shall be, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities which you didn’t build, and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full; then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name. You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, for Yahweh your God among you is a jealous God, lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you. You shall do that which is right and good in Yahweh’s sight, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken.
Parallel Translations
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You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name.
You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you,
for Yahweh your God among you is a jealous God, lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
-
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Show all 3 translations
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Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; and Him shalt thou serve, and by His name shalt thou swear.
Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you;
for a jealous God, even the LORD thy God, is in the midst of thee; lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and He destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (2)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Commandments (1)
The laws of the Torah, each cited and shown as a primary source.
Cross-references (38)
- Luke 4:8 (v13) Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”
- Deuteronomy 10:20 (v13) You shall fear Yahweh your God. You shall serve him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name.
- Matthew 4:10 (v13) Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”
- Deuteronomy 13:4 (v13) You shall walk after Yahweh your God, fear him, keep his commandments, and obey his voice. You shall serve him, and cling to him.
- Deuteronomy 4:24 (v15) For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
Show all 38 cross-references
- Jeremiah 25:6 (v14) Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no…
- Exodus 20:5 (v15) you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on…
- Leviticus 19:12 (v13) “ ‘You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
- Deuteronomy 10:12 (v13) Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve…
- Deuteronomy 13:7 (v14) of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the…
- Psalms 63:11 (v13) But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.
- 1 John 5:21 (v14) Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
- Deuteronomy 8:19 (v14) It shall be, if you shall forget Yahweh your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today…
- Isaiah 45:23 (v13) I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow, every…
- Isaiah 65:16 (v13) so that he who blesses himself in the earth will bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of…
- Jeremiah 12:16 (v13) It will happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As Yahweh lives;’ even as they taught my people…
- Deuteronomy 5:29 (v13) Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and…
- Deuteronomy 6:2 (v13) that you might fear Yahweh your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you—you, your son, and your son’s son,…
- Deuteronomy 11:28 (v14) and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn away out of the way which I command you today, to go…
- Joshua 2:12 (v13) Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and…
- Jeremiah 4:2 (v13) and you will swear, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness. The nations will bless themselves in him, and they will…
- Deuteronomy 7:4 (v15) For that would turn away your sons from following me, that they may serve other gods. So Yahweh’s anger would be kindled against you, and…
- Deuteronomy 11:17 (v15) and Yahweh’s anger be kindled against you, and he shut up the sky so that there is no rain, and the land doesn’t yield its fruit; and you…
- Psalms 15:4 (v13) in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;
- Jeremiah 5:2 (v13) Though they say, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ surely they swear falsely.”
- Jeremiah 5:7 (v13) “How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and sworn by what are no gods. When I had fed them to the full, they committed…
- Genesis 7:4 (v15) In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy every living thing that I have made…
- Exodus 32:12 (v15) Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface…
- Exodus 34:14-16 (v14) for you shall worship no other god; for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. “Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the…
- Numbers 32:10-15 (v15) Yahweh’s anger burned in that day, and he swore, saying, ‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and…
- Deuteronomy 5:9 (v15) You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on…
- 1 Kings 13:34 (v15) This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.
- 2 Chronicles 36:16 (v15) but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people,…
- Psalms 90:7 (v15) For we are consumed in your anger. We are troubled in your wrath.
- Psalms 90:11 (v15) Who knows the power of your anger, your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?
- Amos 3:2 (v15) “I have only chosen you of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins.”
- Amos 9:8 (v15) Behold, the eyes of the Lord Yahweh are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the surface of the earth; except that I will…
- 1 Corinthians 10:22 (v15) Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v13 We must fear God, serve him only, and confess…
We must fear God, serve him only, and confess his Name, which is done by swearing lawfully.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv13–15 Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God,…
Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Ver. 13. And shalt swear by his name.] An oath rightly taken, is a piece of our holy service to God, and may well be reckoned amongst our prayers and other pious performances.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv13, 15 When thou hast a call and just cause to…
When thou hast a call and just cause to swear. By his name, understand only, as Deu 5:2, not by idols, or any creatures.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv13–15 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve…
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him,.... Serve him through fear; not through slavish fear, a fear of hell and damnation; but through filial fear, a reverential affection for that God that had brought them out of a state of bondage into great and glorious liberty, out of Egypt into Canaan's land, out of a place of misery into a land of plenty; and therefore should fear the Lord and his goodness, and from such a fear of him serve him, in every part of worship, public and private, enjoined; this passage Christ refers to Mat 4:10.
and shalt swear by his name; when they made a covenant with any, or were called to bear a testimony for the decision of any controversy which could not be otherwise finished; or whenever they took an oath on any account, which should never be taken rashly or on any trivial account, and much less falsely; it should be taken not in the name of any idol, or of any other but the true and living God; the Targum of Jonathan is,"in the name of the Word of the Lord, in truth ye shall swear.''
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv13, 15 Shalt swear by his name - When thou hast…
Shalt swear by his name - When thou hast a call and just cause to swear, not by idols, or any creatures.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv13–15 Verse 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God]…
Verse 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God] Thou shalt respect and reverence him as thy Lawgiver and Judge; as thy Creator, Preserver, and the sole object of thy religious adoration.
And serve him] Our blessed Lord, in Mt 4:10; Lu 4:8, quotes these words thus: And him ONLY (αυτω μονω) shalt thou serve. It appears, therefore, that לבדו lebaddo was anciently in the Hebrew text, as it was and is in the SEPTUAGINT, (αυτωμονω,) from which our Lord quoted it. The COPTIC preserves the same reading; so do also the VULGATE, (illi soli,) and the ANGLO-SAXON, ([Anglo-Saxon]) Dr. Kennicott argues, that without the word only the text would not have been conclusive for the purpose for which our Lord advanced it; for as we learn from Scripture that some men worshipped false gods in conjunction with the true, the quotation here would not have been full to the point without this exclusive word. It may be proper to observe that the omitted word לבדו lebaddo, retained in the above versions, does not exist in the Hebrew printed text, nor in any MS. hitherto discovered.
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Shalt swear by his name.] תשבע tishshabea, from שבע shaba, he was full, satisfied, or gave that which was full or satisfactory. Hence an oath and swearing, because appealing to God, and taking him for witness in any case of promise, c., gave full and sufficient security for the performance and if done in evidence, or to the truth of any particular fact, it gave full security for the truth of that evidence. An oath, therefore, is an appeal to God, who knows all things, of the truth of the matter in question: and when a religious man takes such an oath, he gives full and reasonable satisfaction that the thing is so, as stated; for it is ever to be presumed that no man, unless in a state of the deepest degradation, would make such an appeal falsely, for this would imply an attempt to make God a party in the deception.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv13, 15 Deu 6:13. Shall swear by his name — Not…
Deu 6:13. Shall swear by his name — Not by idols, or any creatures, but only by his name, when thou hast a call and just cause to swear. But some think, from comparing this with other passages, the words rather mean, that they were to be steadfast in the acknowledgment and worship of the true God, and in professing that religion which he had instituted. Thus, (Isa 19:18,) to swear to the Lord of hosts, is to profess the true religion. And God’s words, by the same prophet, (Isa 45:23,) Unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear, are interpreted by St. Paul to mean, Every tongue shall confess to God, Rom 14:11. Thus, (Psa 63:11,) Every one that sweareth by him, signifies, every worshipper of the true God.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v13 Only. This is omitted in Hebrew; but the Septuagint…
Only. This is omitted in Hebrew; but the Septuagint and Jesus Christ retain it, (Matthew iv. 10,) as the sense requires. You cannot serve God and mammon, Luke xvi. 13. (Calmet) --- Name, and not by that of idols, whenever you may be authorized to take an oath. (Haydock) --- To swear by any other, is to acknowledge him in some sort for a god. When we take an oath on proper occasions, and with due respect and caution, we perform and act of religion. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v13 13. Swear by his name — Not servile fear,…
13. Swear by his name — Not servile fear, but reverential awe, is enjoined. This was the essential basis of Hebrew worship. The oath in the name of Jehovah was equivalent to a solemn acknowledgment of belief in him. This command is not to be considered inconsistent with what the Saviour enjoins in Mat_5:34.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv13–15 13. him shalt thou fear … serve … swear…
13. him shalt thou fear … serve … swear by his name] Intended to cover the whole sphere of religion: the spiritual temper (on the frequent enforcement of the fear of God and its meaning see on Deu_4:10); acts of worship (the Hebrew term, though technically used of these, may cover other duties as well, see Driver, i. l. and cp. on Deu_10:12); and loyalty to God in all one’s intercourse by word and deed with one’s fellows. The reason for this last, which to our ears sounds strange in so brief a summary of religious duty, is clear. All the details of life are more explicitly connected with religion by primitive man than by ourselves. He naively and constantly appeals to his god for the truth of his statements and the honesty of his business transactions. So was it in the Israel of the deuteronomists’ time, Jer_5:2. Thus a man’s oaths were in his everyday life the profession of his faith. If he swore by Baal, Baal was his god. Hence the need of the command to Israel here and in Jer_4:2; Jer_12:16. It is the duty of carrying out one’s religion into the momentary details of life. Hence, too, the definition of Jehovah’s true worshipper as he that sweareth by Jehovah, Psa_63:11. But hence also the need for the presence among the Ten Commandments of one not to take Jehovah’s name in vain. For the practice, however sincere in its origins, was terribly open to abuse, and was (and is) abused among Semitic nations beyond all others. Of the modern Arabs Doughty says, ‘they all day take God’s name in vain (as it was perhaps in ancient Israel), confirming every light and laughing word with cheerful billahs,’ and ‘they will confirm any word with an oath’ (Ar. Des. i. 265, 269). So Christ commanded, swear not at all.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv13, 15 (13) Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and…
(13) Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him.—Literally, Jehovah thy God thou shalt fear, and him shalt thou serve: i.e., Him only, as translated by the LXX., and cited by our Lord in His temptation. It is remarkable that all His answers to the tempter were taken not only from Deuteronomy, but from one and the same portion of Deuteronomy—Deuteronomy 5-10 inclusive—the portion which applies the principles of the Decalogue to Israel’s life.
And shalt swear by his name.—Comp. Exo_23:13. “Make no mention of the name of other gods.” The principle was not unknown to the patriarchs. Laban appealed to the “God of Nahor,” but “Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac” (Gen_31:53). (Comp. Jer_5:7 : “Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by . . . no-gods.”)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v13 Vers. 13-18. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God.…
Vers. 13-18. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God. The fear of the Lord that reverent awe which is akin to love is the beginning of wisdomand the foundation of piety; where it is in the heart it will lead to serving of the Lord in holy obedience; and they in whom it dwells will swear by his Name, recognizing his presence and omniscience, and not daring to asseverate anything but what they know to be true. Thus, really believing in God and reverently worshipping him, the Israelites would be careful not to go after other gods, or to give to any object that homage which is due unto Jehovah alone, knowing that this he will not endure or suffer with impunity; for he is a jealous God, and them that thus dishonor him he will destroy (Exo_20:5; Deu_4:24, etc.) Thus also they should be kept from murmuring against God, and thereby tempting him putting him, as it were, to the proof, and calling in question his presence and his power, as they had done at Massah. (Exo_17:1-7) Without this genuine religious principle there will be no sincere worship, no true reverence, no real obedience, rendered unto God. But where this dwells in the heart it will influence the whole life, so that the commandments of God shall be diligently kept, and that which is good and right in his sight shall be done.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v14 Thou shalt not go after other gods.
Deu_6:14-15
Thou shalt not go after other gods.
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The forbidden path
In all our hearts there is a tendency to depart from God, to forget what He commands, to go after what He forbids. This forbidden path is described.
1. It is entered by many. The path of the people, the gods of the age. Idolatry of every kind is the root and nourisher of error and superstition--the expression and epitome of human nature--the foul dishonour to God and His supremacy. Go not after other gods to serve them and to worship them (Jer_25:6).
2. It is offensive to God. It stirs up Gods anger and rouses His jealousy. Bishop Patrick observes that we never find in law or prophets, anger, or fury, or jealousy, or indignation attributed to God, but upon occasion of idolatry.
3. It is destructive in its end. Destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Idolatry corrupts the body and petrifies the heart. Like a withering mildew it overspreads the earth and blights the nations. The warning voice from above should be heard: Ye shall bear the sins of your idols, and ye shall know that I am the Lord God. (J. Wolfendale.)
Jealousy the shadow of love
All sin is a caricature of virtue, and sin never looks so shameful as when we put it beside the virtue which it caricatures. The Bible seems to attribute human passions to God. He is a jealous God, an angry God. But jealousy and anger are distortions of virtue, as the face of the man in anger is a distortion of the same face in repose. The very passions of men, rightly inspired and rightly guided, are Divine. For this very reason, wrongly caused, wrongly inspired, wrongly guided, they are the more detestable. What is worse than jealousy? Read of it in Othello. But is jealousy always wicked? Was it wicked in Elijah when, looking out upon a devastated and desolate kingdom, with Israels allegiance swept away from God, he cried out in agony of prayer to Him, I have been jealous for Thy name, O Lord of Hosts? Was it wicked in Paul when, writing to the Corinthians, who had at one time held firmly to their love for Christ, and had been swept away from their allegiance, the apostle cries out, I am filled with a godly jealousy for you? Jealousy is the shadow love casts; and the greater the love the greater the possibility of the shadow. Jealousy is the revulsion of feeling against that which assails love. And as the musician, full of keenness of ear and ecstasy of pleasure in fine music, revolts against a discord, so the soul that is rich in love and sensitive to all the pulsations of love revolts against whatsoever impinges upon and violates love. (Lyman Abbott.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v13 (See Scofield "Psa 19:9").
fear
(See Scofield "Psa 19:9").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v13 General Information:
General Information:
Moses continues to tell the people of Israel Yahweh's words as if the Israelites are one person. (See: Forms of You)
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You will honor Yahweh your God; him you will worship, and you will swear by his name
"It is Yahweh your God and no one else whom you will honor; it is he alone whom you will worship, and it is by his name and only his name that you will swear." Your language may have another way of emphasizing that Yahweh is telling the Israelites not to worship or serve any other god.
you will swear by his name
To swear by the name of Yahweh means to make Yahweh the basis or the power on which the oath is made. The metonym "his name" refers to Yahweh himself. AT: "you will swear and ask Yahweh to confirm it" or "when you swear you will speak his name" (See: Metonymy)
in the midst of you
"who lives among you"
the anger of Yahweh your God will be kindled against you
Moses compares Yahweh's anger to someone starting a fire to destroy things. This can be stated in active form. To kindle anger is a metaphor for becoming very angry. AT: "Yahweh your God will kindle his anger" or "Yahweh your God will become very angry" (See: Active or Passive and Metaphor)
destroy you from
"destroy you so that there is nothing left of you anywhere on"
translationWords
honor
Yahweh
God
worship
oath
name
false god
people group
jealous
anger
earth
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v13 6:13 Jesus quoted this verse when tempted by Satan…
6:13 Jesus quoted this verse when tempted by Satan (Matt 4:10; Luke 4:8).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.