Deuteronomy 6:3
What does Deuteronomy 6:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Deuteronomy 6:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Deuteronomy 6:3 means
Moses urges Israel to listen attentively and diligently obey God's commands. He assures them that their obedience will lead to prosperity and abundant growth in the land flowing with milk and honey—a recurring biblical metaphor for rich fertility. This well-being and might increase are not accidental but are the direct fulfillment of God's ancient promises to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, establishing a continuity of divine faithfulness across generations.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Hear 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So give ear, O Israel, and take care to do this; so that it may be well for you, and you may be greatly increased, as the Lord the God of your fathers has given you his word, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And thou hast heard, O Israel, and observed to do, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest multiply exceedingly, as Jehovah, God of thy fathers, hath spoken to thee, <FI>in<Fi> the land flowing with milk and honey.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Hear, O Israel, and observe to do the things which the Lord hath commanded thee, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayst be greatly multiplied, as the Lord the God of thy fathers hath promised thee a land flowing with milk and honey.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And thou shalt hear, Israel, and take heed to do [them]; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase greatly, as Jehovah theGod of thy fathers hath said unto thee, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Context
After the initial call to live out God's laws (verse 1) and the reasons for doing so (verse 2), this verse intensifies the call to hear and do. It explicitly links obedience to the covenant blessings of prosperity and population growth. This verse acts as a bridge, leading directly into the foundational declaration of God's unique nature in verse 4, known as the Shema.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 12:2
and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:
- Exodus 3:8
and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
- Deuteronomy 5:32
Ye shall observe to do therefore as Jehovah your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
- Acts 7:17
But as the time of the promise drew nigh which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
- Isaiah 3:10
Say ye of the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
- Exodus 1:7
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
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