Deuteronomy 6:5 Text
King James Version (KJV)
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
World English Bible (WEB)
You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
What Deuteronomy 6:5 Means
This verse is the center of what Jewish tradition calls the Shema, the declaration that Israel's God is one and is to be loved completely. The command names three parts of a person: heart, soul, and might. In Hebrew thought the heart was the seat of will and thinking, not only feeling, and the soul meant the whole living self. Might points to strength, resources, and energy. Together they describe love that involves choices and effort, not just warm emotion. A common misreading treats the verse as a demand for intense feelings on command. In context, love here is closely tied to loyalty and obedience, the way a covenant partner stays faithful. The WEB uses the name Yahweh where the KJV prints LORD, which makes it clearer that a specific, personal name is being used. Jesus later quoted this verse as the greatest commandment.
Context of Deuteronomy 6:5
Deuteronomy is presented as Moses speaking to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before the people enter the promised land. Many scholars think the book reached its final form later, though Jewish and Christian tradition credits Moses. Chapter 6 opens a long section on living faithfully in the land. The verse just before declares that the LORD is one, and the verses after tell parents to repeat these words to their children at home and on the road. To read the whole book, see random verse from Deuteronomy.
How to Apply Deuteronomy 6:5
You do not have to manufacture a feeling to take this verse seriously. Start with where your time, attention, and money actually go, and ask whether any of it can be turned toward God on purpose this week. Small, regular habits such as prayer, rest, or generosity are a fair way to practice loving with more than your emotions.
Related Verses
- Matthew 22:37-39 – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- Mark 12:30-31 – And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
- Deuteronomy 6:4 – Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD :
- Deuteronomy 10:12 – And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Love, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does loving God with all your heart, soul, and might mean?
It describes love that involves the whole person: your will and thinking, your life and desires, and your strength and resources. Most readers take it as a call to wholehearted loyalty shown through daily choices, not a one-time feeling or a ranking of emotions.
Is Deuteronomy 6:5 the greatest commandment?
Jesus said so. When asked which commandment was greatest, he quoted this verse, adding the word mind in the Gospel accounts, and paired it with loving your neighbor. Jewish tradition also treats it as the heart of the Shema, recited morning and evening.
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