The Great Commandment
Deuteronomy 6
Moses declares that the Lord is one and charges Israel to love him with all their heart, soul, and strength, teaching these words diligently to their children. He warns them not to forget the Lord once they are settled and prospering in the good land he is giving them.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW these are the commandments, and the rules of rectitude, and the judgments, which the Lord our God commanded you to be taught, that you may act conformably thereto in the land to which you are going, there to take possession of it;
BrentonAnd these are the commands, and the ordinances, and the judgments, as many as the Lord our God gave commandment to teach you to do so in the land on which ye enter to inherit it.
GreekΚαὶ αὗται αἱ ἐντολαὶ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν διδάξαι ὑμᾶς ποιεῖν οὕτως ἐν τῇ γῇ, εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς εἰσπορεύεσθε ἐκεῖ κληρονομῆσαι αὐτήν.
KJVNow these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
JPSNow this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it—
2
Thomsonthat you may fear the Lord your God. You shall keep all His statutes, and His commandments, which I this day command you, both thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, all the days of thy life, that you may live many days.
BrentonThat ye may fear the Lord your God, keep ye all his ordinances, and his commandments, which I command thee to-day, thou, and thy sons, and thy sons' sons, all the days of thy life, that ye may live many days.
GreekἽνα φοβῆσθε Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ὑμῶν, φυλάσσεσθε πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ, ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν υἱῶν σου πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου, ἵνα μακροημερεύσητε.
KJVThat thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
JPSthat thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3
ThomsonTherefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to perform; that it may be well with thee, and that you may be greatly multiplied, as the Lord, the God of thy fathers, hath promised to give thee a land flowing with milk and honey. These indeed are the rules of rectitude, and the judgments, which the Lord gave in charge to the children of Israel, in the wilderness, on their coming out of the land of Egypt.
BrentonHear, therefore, O Israel, and observe to do them, that it may be well with thee, and that ye may be greatly multiplied, as the Lord God of thy fathers said that he would give thee a land flowing with milk and honey: and these are the ordinances, and the judgments, which the Lord commanded the children of Israel in the wilderness, when they had gone forth from the land of Egypt.
GreekΚαὶ ἄκουσον Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ φύλαξον ποιεῖν, ὅπως εὖ σοι ἠ·, καὶ ἵνα πληθυνθῆτε σφόδρα, καθάπερ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων σου δοῦναί σοι γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι·
KJVHear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
JPSHear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD, the God of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee—a land flowing with milk and honey.
4
ThomsonHear O Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is One.
BrentonHear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord.
Greekκαὶ ταῦτα τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα, ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Κύριος τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ γῆν Αἰγύπτου. Ἄκουε Ἰσραὴλ, Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, Κύριος εἷς ἐστι.
KJVHear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
JPSHEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.
5
ThomsonAnd thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole understanding, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole might.
BrentonAnd thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and all thy strength.
GreekΚαὶ ἀγαπήσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς δυνάμεώς σου.
KJVAnd thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
JPSAnd thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6
ThomsonAnd these injunctions, which I this day give thee in charge, shall be in thy heart, and in thy soul;
BrentonAnd these words, all that I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart and in thy soul.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, καὶ ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σου.
KJVAnd these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
JPSAnd these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;
7
Thomsonand thou shalt impress them on thy children, and speak of them, when thou sittest at home, and when thou art walking abroad, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up;
BrentonAnd thou shalt teach them to thy children, and thou shalt speak of them sitting in the house, and walking by the way, and lying down, and rising up.
GreekΚαὶ προβιβάσεις αὐτὰ τοὺς υἱούς σου, καὶ λαλήσεις ἐν αὐτοῖς καθήμενος ἐν οἴκῳ, καὶ πορευόμενος ἐν ὁδῷ, καὶ κοιταζόμενος, καὶ διανιστάμενος.
KJVAnd thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
JPSand thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8
Thomsonand thou shalt bind them for a sign on thy right hand, and it shall be immoveably before thine eyes.
BrentonAnd thou shalt fasten them for a sign upon thy hand, and it shall be immoveable before thine eyes.
GreekΚαὶ ἀφάψεις αὐτὰ εἰς σημεῖον ἐπὶ τῆς χειρός σου, καὶ ἔσται ἀσάλευτον πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου.
KJVAnd thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
JPSAnd thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.
9
ThomsonYou shall also write them on the posts of your houses and gates.
BrentonAnd ye shall write them on the lintels of your houses and of your gates.
GreekΚαὶ γράψετε αὐτὰ ἐπὶ τὰς φλιὰς τῶν οἰκιῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ τῶν πυλῶν ὑμῶν.
KJVAnd thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
JPSAnd thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
10
ThomsonAnd when the Lord thy God hath brought thee into the land, which, with an oath, He promised to thy fathers, to Abraham, and Isaak, and Jacob, to give thee cities, great and beautiful, which thou hast not builded;
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware to thy fathers, to Abraam, and to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and beautiful cities which thou didst not build,
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὅταν εἰσαγάγῃ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου, τῷ Ἁβραὰμ, καὶ τῷ Ἰσαακ, καὶ τῷ Ἰακώβ, δοῦναί σοι πόλεις μεγάλας καὶ καλὰς ἃς οὐκ ᾠκοδόμησας,
KJVAnd it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
JPSAnd it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land which He swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee—great and goodly cities, which thou didst not build,
11
Thomsonhouses full of all good things, which thou hast not filled; cisterns of hewn stone, which thou hast not hewed; vineyards, and olive yards which thou hast not planted; and when thou hast eaten, and art filled,
Brentonhouses full of all good things which thou didst not fill, wells dug in the rock which thou didst not dig, vineyards and oliveyards which thou didst not plant, then having eaten and been filled,
Greekοἰκίας πλήρεις πάντων ἀγαθῶν ἃς οὐκ ἐνέπλησας, λάκκους λελατομημένους οὓς οὐκ ἐξελατόμησας, ἀμπελῶνας καὶ ἐλαιῶνας οὓς οὐ κατεφύτευσας, καὶ φαγὼν καὶ ἐμπλησθεὶς, πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ
KJVAnd houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
JPSand houses full of all good things, which thou didst not fill, and cisterns hewn out, which thou the didst not hew, vineyards and olive-trees, which thou didst not plant, and thou shalt eat and be satisfied—
12
Thomsontake heed to thyself, that thou forget not the Lord thy God, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt—out of the house of bondage.
Brentonbeware lest thou forget the Lord thy God that brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
GreekΚυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου τοῦ ἐξαγαγόντος σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας.
KJVThen beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
JPSthen beware lest thou forget the LORD, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
13
ThomsonThou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him alone, and cleave to Him, and swear by His name.
BrentonThou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve; and thou shalt cleave to him, and by his name thou shalt swear.
GreekΚύριον τὸν Θεόν σου φοβήθήσῃ, καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν κολληθήσῃ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ὀμῇ.
KJVThou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
JPSThou shalt fear the LORD thy God; and Him shalt thou serve, and by His name shalt thou swear.
14
ThomsonGo not after other gods—after any of the gods of the nations around you
BrentonGo ye not after other gods of the gods of the nations round about you;
GreekΟὐ πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω θεῶν ἑτέρων ἀπὸ τῶν θεῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν περικύκλῳ ὑμῶν,
KJVYe shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
JPSYe shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you;
15
Thomson(for the zealous God—the Lord thy God is among you); lest the Lord thy God, being provoked to wrath against thee, destroy thee from the face of the land.
Brentonfor the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is a jealous God, lest the Lord thy God be very angry with thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Greekὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ζηλωτὴς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν σοί· μὴ ὀργισθεὶς θυμῷ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου σοὶ, ἐξολοθρεύσῃ σε ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς.
KJV(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.
JPSfor 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.
16
ThomsonThou shalt not try the Lord thy God, as you tried Him at [the place called] Temptation.
BrentonThou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, as ye tempted him in the temptation.
GreekΟὐκ ἐκπειράσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, ὃν τρόπον ἐξεπειράσατε ἐν τῷ πειρασμῷ.
KJVYe shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
JPSYe shall not try the LORD your God, as ye tried Him in Massah.
17
ThomsonThou shalt diligently keep the commandments of the Lord thy God—all the testimonies, and the rules of rectitude, which He shall give thee in charge;
BrentonThou shalt by all means keep the commands of the Lord thy God, the testimonies, and the ordinances, which he commanded thee.
GreekΦυλάσσων φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, τὰ μαρτύρια, καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα, ὅσα ἐνετείλατό σοι.
KJVYe shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
JPSYe shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He hath commanded thee.
18
Thomsonand thou shalt do what is well pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord thy God, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayst go in, and take possession of that good land, out of which the Lord hath, with an oath, promised your fathers
BrentonAnd thou shalt do that which is pleasing and good before the Lord thy God, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and inherit the good land, which the Lord sware to your fathers,
GreekΚαὶ ποιήσεις τὸ ἀρεστὸν καὶ τὸ καλὸν ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται, καὶ εἰσέλθῃς καὶ κληρονομήσῃς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθὴν, ἣν ὤμοσε Κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν,
KJVAnd thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
JPSAnd thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers,
19
Thomsonto drive all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.
Brentonto chase all thine enemies from before thy face, as the Lord said.
Greekἐκδιῶξαι πάντας τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου πρὸ προσώπου σου, καθὰ ἐλάλησε Κύριος.
KJVTo cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.
JPSto thrust out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.
20
ThomsonAnd when thy son shall, in time to come, ask thee, saying, What is the meaning of these testimonies, and these rules of rectitude, and these judgments, which the Lord our God hath enjoined on us?
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass when thy son shall ask thee at a future time, saying, What are the testimonies, and the ordinances, and the judgments, which the Lord our God has commanded us?
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὅταν ἐρωτήσῃ σε ὁ υἱός σου αὔριον, λέγων, τί ἐστι τὰ μαρτύρια, καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα, ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἡμῖν;
KJVAnd when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
JPSWhen thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying: ‘What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
21
ThomsonThen thou shalt say to thy son, We were servants to Pharao, in the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought us out thence, with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm.
BrentonThen shalt thou say to thy son, We were slaves to Pharao in the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought us forth thence with a mighty hand, and with a high arm.
GreekΚαὶ ἐρεῖς τῷ υἱῷ σου, οἰκέται ἦμεν τῷ Φαραὼ ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἐξήγαγεν ἡμᾶς Κύριος ἐκεῖθεν ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ, καὶ ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ.
KJVThen thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
JPSthen thou shalt say unto thy son: ‘We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
22
ThomsonAnd when the Lord had shewn signs, and wonders, great and grievous, in Egypt, on Pharao, and on his household, in our sight,
BrentonAnd the Lord wrought signs and great and grievous wonders in Egypt, on Pharao and on his house before us.
GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκε Κύριος σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα μεγάλα καὶ πονηρὰ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ἐν Φαραὼ καὶ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον ἡμῶν,
KJVAnd the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
JPSAnd the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his house, before our eyes.
23
ThomsonHe brought us out thence, to give us this land, which, with an oath, He promised to give our fathers;
BrentonAnd he brought us out thence to give us this land, which he sware to give to our fathers.
Greekκαὶ ἡμᾶς ἐξήγαγεν ἐκεῖθεν δαῦναι ἡμῖν τὴν γῆν ταύτην, ἣν ὤμοσε δοῦναι τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν.
KJVAnd he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
JPSAnd He brought us out from thence, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He swore unto our fathers.
24
Thomsonand the Lord commanded us to practise all these rules—to fear the Lord our God, that it may be well with us always, that we may live, as we now do.
BrentonAnd the Lord charged us to observe all these ordinances; to fear the Lord our God, that it may be well with us for ever, that we may live, as even to-day.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν Κύριος ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα· φοβεῖσθαι Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, ἵνα εὖ ἠ· ἡμῖν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἵνα ζῶμεν ὥσπερ καὶ σήμερον.
KJVAnd the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
JPSAnd the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
25
ThomsonFor we shall find mercy, if we be careful to perform all these commandments in the sight of the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us.
BrentonAnd there shall be mercy to us, if we take heed to keep all these commands before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλεημοσύνη ἔσται ἡμῖν, ἐὰν φυλασσώμεθα ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, καθὰ ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν.
KJVAnd it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
JPSAnd it shall be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as He hath commanded us.’