What Does Deuteronomy 6:4 Mean?
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one"
The problem in translating this verse is not the meaning of the Hebrew term for “one,” but the division of the sentence “
Yahweh Elohim Yahweh echad”. Since the Hebrew text has
no punctuation,
various renderings are possible, all requiring the addition of the verb “is.” The four most important possibilities can be found in the New Revised Standard Version and its footnote on this verse:
•Yahweh (is) our God, Yahweh alone.
•Yahweh our God (is) one Yahweh.
•Yahweh our God, Yahweh (is) one.
•Yahweh (is) our God, Yahweh (is) one.
These versions have major differences in emphasis. The question here is not about the psychological effect created by each possibility, but the meaning of the passage for its theological import.
The
theological possibilities behind Deuteronomy 6:4 are two. The first is that this verse stresses God’s unity, and the second is that it stresses God’s uniqueness. “
Unity” means
oneness (a state of being single). In a theological context, it does not mean harmony among people (unity of mind, etc.) – it means that there is only one God. “
Uniqueness” means a state in which there is
no equal. Although many gods may exist, only one is to be Israel’s God.
https://www.gci.org/God/Deut64
So, the "lone" English translation, given by Jews, is not necessarily the only or best or most accurate translation. The proclamation of Deut 6:4 is meant to convey the
UNIQUENESS of
Israel's God among the multitude of "gods" present in the ancient world of Moses and Israel.
Bs"d
Let us see how the Christian messiah and the rest of the NT writers understood this verse:
"And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, THE LORD IS
ONE; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that HE IS
ONE, and there is no other but he; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."" Mark 12:28-34 Revised Standard Version
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is
one." .... "You are right in saying that God is
one" New International Version
"Here is the most important one. Moses said, 'Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is
one." .... "You are right in saying that God is
one." New International Readers Version
"Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, The Lord is
One." .... "You have correctly said that He is
One," Holman Christian Standard Bible
"Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is
one:" .... "thou hast well said that he is
one;" American Standard Version
"Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is
one." New King James Version
"Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
one" .... "You have truly said that he is
one," English Standard Version
"Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is
one;" .... "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is
one" The Message
"‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
one." .... “You are right in saying that God is
one" New International Version
"Now an intermediary implies more than one; but GOD IS
ONE." Gal 3:20 Revised Standard Version
"Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but GOD IS
ONE" King James Version
"A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but GOD IS
ONE." New International Version
"Now an intermediary implies more than one, but GOD IS
ONE." English Standard Version
"Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but GOD IS
ONE." American Standard Version
"and the mediator is not of one, and GOD IS
ONE" Youngs Literal Translation
"You believe that GOD IS
ONE; you do well." James 2:19 Revised Standard Version
"thou -- thou dost believe that GOD IS
ONE; thou dost well," Youngs Literal translation
"Thou believest that GOD IS
ONE; thou doest well:" American Standard Version
"You believe that GOD IS
ONE; you do well." Holman Christian Standard Bible.
"*Thou* believest that GOD IS
ONE. Thou doest well." Darby Translation.
"It’s good that you believe that GOD IS
ONE." Common English Bible
"You believe that GOD IS
ONE; you do well." English Standard Version
"You believe that GOD IS
ONE; you do well." Amplified Bible
"You believe that GOD IS
ONE You do well;" New American Standard Bible
שמע ישראל י-ה-ו-ה אלהנו י-ה-ו-ה אחד
Hear Israel, Y-H-W-H is our God, Y-H-W-H is ONE.
And you shall love
Y-H-W-H your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart;
and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deut 6:4-9
The Jews until this day fulfill this commandment. Every morning they put upon their arm and upon their forehead their phylacteries, (prayer belts) that consist of black straps with black leather cubes, that contain parchment upon which is written this Biblical text that says that God is one. Upon the doorposts of the houses of the religious Jews there are small boxes or containers that also contain parchment upon which is written that God is one. During the morning and evening prayers the above text is recited which says that God is one.
Y-H-W-H, the one and only God who is one.
Beside Him there is no God, no Buddha, no Christ, no David Koresh; NOBODY.
Whoever worships anything or anybody else than
Y-H-W-H is an
IDOL WORSHIPPER.