Deuteronomy 6:9
What does Deuteronomy 6:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Deuteronomy 6:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Deuteronomy 6:9 means
Writing God's words on the doorposts of their houses and on their gates likewise serves as a constant, visible reminder of His laws and sovereignty. This practice, again literally observed as mezuzot by Jews, means that every departure from and return to their dwelling, and every entrance and exit from their city, would bring them face-to-face with God's commands. It signifies that God's authority extends over their private lives within the home and their public interactions within the community.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Have them lettered on the pillars of your houses and over the doors of your towns.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and thou hast written them on door-posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And thou shalt write them in the entry, and on the doors of thy house.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
Context
Building on the principle of visible reminders introduced in verse 8 (hands and eyes), this verse extends the application to their living spaces—doorposts and gates. This further emphasizes the pervasive presence of God's law in both private and public life. This whole section (6-9) details the practical ways to internalize and live out the great command to love God, preceding the warning against forgetfulness in prosperity.
v.8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.
v.9This passage
v.10And it shall be, when Jehovah thy God shall bring 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 buildest not,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 11:20
And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates;
- Isaiah 30:8
Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.
- Exodus 12:7
And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it.
- Habakkuk 2:2
And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it.
- Job 19:23
Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
- Isaiah 57:8
And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them: thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.
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