Deuteronomy states Israel’s core confession: “The LORD our God, the LORD is one” Deuteronomy 6:4. In context it is followed by the call to love the LORD with heart, soul, and might Deuteronomy 6:5. The point in the passage is exclusive loyalty to the LORD as Israel’s God.
In Deuteronomy 6:4–7 Moses calls Israel to listen to a central confession about Yahweh and to respond with total love. The passage moves from who Yahweh is for Israel, to what Israel must do: love him with the whole self. These verses sit within Moses’ extended address urging Israel to live faithfully as they prepare to enter the land. Just before this, the people have heard the core commands again and are told to fear Yahweh and keep his commands through generations (Deuteronomy 6:1–3).
Deuteronomy 6:4–7 presents a core confession that shapes Israel’s identity and loyalty: Israel must listen, recognize Yahweh as “our God,” and hold that Yahweh is “one” (explicit). The passage ties this confession directly to a response: Israel is to love Yahweh with the whole self—“heart, soul, might” (explicit).
A common mistake is to turn the wording into a slogan. The better reading keeps the phrase tied to the passage, the speaker, and the problem the book is addressing.
Start with Deuteronomy 6:4, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
4Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: