Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.

DEUTERONOMY 11:1KJV
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Deuteronomy 11:1 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 11:1 mean?

Deuteronomy 11:1 tells the people to love the LORD their God and to always keep His charge, statutes, judgments, and commandments. The verse calls for a loyal relationship with God that is shown by careful attention to all the instructions He has given.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He reminds them that their relationship with God is not just about feelings but also about faithfully following all of God’s directions. The verse lists several types of instructions—charge, statutes, judgments, commandments—to stress that every aspect of God’s guidance matters.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 11:1

  • "Love" (אָהַב, ’ahav): This word means more than emotion; it often includes loyalty, commitment, and action. Here, loving God is closely tied to obeying Him.
  • "Keep" (שָׁמַר, shamar): This word means to guard, watch over, or carefully observe. The idea is not just to remember God’s instructions but to actively protect and follow them.
  • "Charge" (מִשְׁמֶרֶת, mishmeret): This refers to duties or responsibilities given by God. It suggests that God’s people have a trust to uphold.
  • "Statutes" (חֻקָּה, chuqqah), "Judgments" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat), "Commandments" (מִצְוָה, mitzvah): These words cover different kinds of instructions—ritual laws, legal decisions, and direct commands—showing that all of God’s directions are important.
  • "Alway" (יֹום, yom): This word literally means "day," but here it means continually or always, stressing that this obedience is ongoing.

Why Deuteronomy 11:1 matters

  • Deuteronomy 11:1 makes clear that loving God is not just an inward feeling but is shown by a life of obedience to all of His instructions.
  • The verse uses several different words for God’s instructions, highlighting that every kind of command—from ritual to moral to legal—is important and should be respected.
  • This verse sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where Moses will explain the blessings of obedience and the dangers of turning away, showing that the relationship with God is practical and lived out daily.

Where else these words appear

“charge” Hebrew H4931 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
  • Numbers 8:26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.

“statutes” Hebrew H2708 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
  • Leviticus 26:43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
  • 2 Kings 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.