Dictionary Article

The declaration “Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our God is one Yahweh” (Dt 6:4). Shema comes from the first Hebrew word of the verse, shema, “hear.” Verses 4-9 make up the whole of this foundational biblical truth. While several translations of verse 4 are grammatically correct, Jesus’ words in Mark 12:29 correspond most closely to the one given above. Religious Jews recite the Shema three times daily as part of their devotional life; no Sabbath worship is conducted in the synagogue without its proclamation.

Show passage in OET: DEU 6:4

OET-RV DEU 6:4

4 Listen Yisrael: Yahweh alone is our god

OET-LV DEU 6:4

4 Wwww Oh _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) YHWH god _of_our YHWH wwww.

Show passage in OET: DEU 6:4–9

OET-RV DEU 6:4

4 Listen Yisrael: Yahweh alone is our god

OET-RV DEU 6:5

5 and you should love your god Yahweh with your whole mind, your entire being, and all your strength.

OET-RV DEU 6:6

6 Always be considering these instructions that I’m giving you today,

OET-RV DEU 6:7

7 and diligently teach them to your children, and talk about them when you’re sitting at home and when you’re out walking, when you lie down and when you get up.

OET-RV DEU 6:8

8 Your hands should always be applying them and your minds should always be evaluating them.

OET-RV DEU 6:9

9 Carve them onto your doorposts at home, and on your city gates.

OET-LV DEU 6:4

4 Wwww Oh _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) YHWH god _of_our YHWH wwww.

OET-LV DEU 6:5

5 And_you _will _love DOM YHWH god _of_your in_all heart _of_your and_on/over_all being _of_your and_on/over_all strength _of_your.

OET-LV DEU 6:6

6 And_they _will _be the_words/messages the_these which I am_commanding _of_you the_day on heart _of_your.

OET-LV DEU 6:7

7 And_you_will _repeat _them to_children _of_your and_you _will _speak in_them when_sit_you in_house _of_your and_when_walk_you on_road and_when_you_lie _down and_when_you_rise _up.

OET-LV DEU 6:8

8 And_you_will _tie _them for_a _sign on hand _of_your and_they _will _be for_marks between eyes _of_your.

OET-LV DEU 6:9

9 And_you_will _write _them on the _doorposts _of your _house _of_your and_on_gates _of_your.

Show passage in OET: MRK 12:29

OET-RV MRK 12:29

29 “Well,” Yeshua answered, “the most important is this: ‘Listen, Yisrael (Israel). Our God Yahweh is our master.

OET-LV MRK 12:29

29 the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) answered, that The_first is:
Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl) be _hearing, the_master the god of _us is one master,

Jump to OET DEU 6:4 section.

Jump to OET DEU 6:4–9 section.

Jump to OET MRK 12:29 section.

Within the Shema is found both a fundamental doctrinal truth and a resultant obligation. There is an urgency connected to the teaching: the word shema demands that the hearer respond with his total being to the fact and demands of this essential revelation.

With regard to the teaching pertaining to the nature of God, the word “one” (echad) designates a compound unity rather than an absolute singular. While the eminent medieval Jewish theologian Maimonides insisted that God was yachid (an absolute singular), the OT does not use this word to define God’s nature. The compound singular word for “one” first occurs in Genesis 2:24 where a man and woman, though separate entities, are seen to be one (echad) in marriage. Understandably, Jesus could freely quote Deuteronomy 6:4 without infringing upon the truth of his own deity.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary