What is shema deuteronomy 6 4 9?

The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–9) is the foundational declaration of Jewish faith, beginning with the proclamation of God's absolute unity: "Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad" — "Hear O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is One." The passage continues with the commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might, and prescribes several practical mitzvot (commandments) for embedding this love into daily life.

Key Takeaways

The Shema is Judaism's central declaration of monotheism and divine unity.
It commands love of God with total devotion — heart, soul, and all one's resources.
It mandates daily Torah study and transmission to one's children.
It is the source of the commandments of tefillin (phylacteries) and mezuzah.
It is recited twice daily — morning and evening — as a stabilizing foundation of Jewish life.

The Full Text of Deuteronomy 6:4–9

[Deuteronomy 6:4–9] provides the first paragraph of the Shema:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד׃ "Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is One."

וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכׇל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכׇל־מְאֹדֶךָ׃ "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might."

"And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your home, when you walk on the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates."

Breaking Down the Passage

1. The Declaration of Unity (v. 4)

The opening verse — "Shema Yisrael" — is the central creed of Judaism. The word שְׁמַע (Shema) means "Hear" or "Listen," implying active, inward acceptance, not mere auditory reception.

Rashi [Rashi, Deuteronomy 6:4] explains that Adonai Echad ("the LORD is One") means God who is now our God alone will ultimately be recognized as the One God by all peoples. This has both a present and an eschatological dimension.

The Talmud [Berakhot 13b] teaches that when reciting the word אֶחָד (Echad, "One"), one should extend the dalet slightly, meditating on God's sovereignty over all directions — heaven, earth, and the four corners of the world.

2. Love of God (v. 5)

The command "you shall love the LORD your God" is analyzed by the Mishnah [Berakhot 9:5]:

"With all your heart" (b'chol levavcha) — with both your yetzer tov (good inclination) and yetzer hara (evil inclination), meaning even one's passions should be channeled toward God.
"With all your soul" (b'chol nafshecha) — even if God takes your life, a reference to kiddush Hashem (martyrdom for God's name).
"With all your might" (b'chol me'odecha) — with all your financial resources and strength, or according to some, "with every measure He metes out to you," accepting all circumstances.

3. Torah Study and Transmission (vv. 6–7)

"And you shall teach them diligently to your children" (v'shinantam l'vanecha) is one of the primary Biblical sources for the obligation of Torah education.

Rashi [Rashi, Deuteronomy 6:7] notes the root שנן (sh-n-n, to sharpen) implies the words should be so clear and sharp in your mouth that if someone asks you something, you can answer immediately without hesitation.

The verse "when you sit in your home, when you walk on the way, when you lie down and when you rise up" is the Biblical source for reciting Shema twice daily — morning (b'kumecha, when you rise) and evening (b'shochbecha, when you lie down) [Berakhot 2a].

4. The Commandments of Tefillin and Mezuzah (vv. 8–9)

Tefillin (phylacteries): "Bind them as a sign upon your hand and as frontlets between your eyes" — small leather boxes containing Torah passages worn on the arm and head during morning prayer.
Mezuzah: "Write them on the doorposts of your house and your gates" — a parchment scroll affixed to doorframes containing the Shema and the second paragraph (V'haya im Shamoa, Deuteronomy 11:13–21).

The Three Paragraphs of Shema

While Deuteronomy 6:4–9 is the first paragraph, the full Shema as recited in prayer consists of three sections:

| Paragraph | Source | Theme | |---|---|---| | 1st | Deuteronomy 6:4–9 | Unity of God, love, tefillin, mezuzah | | 2nd | Deuteronomy 11:13–21 | Reward and punishment, love and service | | 3rd | Numbers 15:39–41 | Tzitzit (fringes), remembering all commandments, Exodus from Egypt |

As the Talmud states: "Shema consists of three sections which, although they do not appear consecutively in the Torah, combine to form a single, meaningful unit... a recitation of the fundamental tenets of Judaism. Reciting it each day provides the stabilizing foundation and the guidelines for Jewish life." [Introductions to the Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 9]

Why This Passage Is So Central

The Shema has been called the "watchword of the Jewish faith". It is:

The first prayer taught to Jewish children
The last words traditionally said before death
Recited by martyrs throughout Jewish history
The twice-daily anchor of Jewish prayer (tefillah)

Maimonides (Rambam) counts the acceptance of God's unity as the first and most fundamental of all commandments, rooted precisely in this verse [Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 1:1].

For personal guidance on how to recite the Shema, the proper laws of tefillin and mezuzah, or questions about practice, please consult your local rabbi or posek.