(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.

DEUTERONOMY 6:15KJV
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Deuteronomy 6:15 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 6:15 mean?

Deuteronomy 6:15 warns that the LORD, described as a jealous God, will respond with anger if the people turn away from Him, and this could lead to their destruction from the land. The verse emphasizes that God’s presence among the Israelites means He expects their loyalty and will not tolerate divided devotion.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land. He reminds them that their God is not distant but is "among" them, and that His jealousy (meaning His demand for exclusive worship) is serious. The warning is meant to keep the people from following other gods, highlighting the consequences of breaking their covenant relationship with the LORD.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 6:15

  • "jealous" (קַנָּא, qanna): This word means more than just envy; it refers to God’s passionate commitment to His people and His intolerance of unfaithfulness, much like a spouse expects loyalty.
  • "among" (קֶרֶב, qerev): This word means "in the midst of" or "within." It stresses that God is not far off but is present and active among the people, making their loyalty even more important.
  • "anger" (אַף, aph): This word literally means "nose" or "face," but it is often used to describe anger, especially the kind that is visible and intense. It gives a vivid picture of God’s response to unfaithfulness.
  • "destroy" (שָׁמַד, shamad): This word means to wipe out or annihilate completely, showing the seriousness of the warning—God’s judgment would not be partial or light.

Why Deuteronomy 6:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God’s "jealousy" is not petty but is about His rightful claim to the people’s exclusive worship, rooted in a covenant relationship.
  • The warning connects to the larger context of Deuteronomy 6, where Moses urges Israel to love and obey God alone, tying faithfulness directly to their continued life in the land.
  • The mention of God being "among" the people highlights that His expectations and His discipline are both immediate and personal, not distant or theoretical.

Where else these words appear

“jealous” Hebrew H7067 · used in 5 verses

  • Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
  • Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
  • Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

“destroy” Hebrew H8045 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 31:4 And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.
  • Esther 7:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

“kindled” Hebrew H2734 · used in 87 verses

  • Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
  • Deuteronomy 7:4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
  • 1 Chronicles 13:10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.