Deuteronomy 10:20
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
Original Language Analysis
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
3 of 10
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
תִּירָ֖א
Thou shalt fear
H3372
תִּירָ֖א
Thou shalt fear
Strong's:
H3372
Word #:
4 of 10
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
אֹת֣וֹ
H853
אֹת֣וֹ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
תַֽעֲבֹ֑ד
him shalt thou serve
H5647
תַֽעֲבֹ֑ד
him shalt thou serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
6 of 10
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
תִדְבָּ֔ק
and to him shalt thou cleave
H1692
תִדְבָּ֔ק
and to him shalt thou cleave
Strong's:
H1692
Word #:
8 of 10
properly, to impinge, i.e., cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
Cross References
Deuteronomy 6:13Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.Deuteronomy 13:4Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.Deuteronomy 11:22For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;Luke 4:8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Psalms 63:11But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.Matthew 4:10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Historical Context
Moses preached this on Moab's plains as Israel prepared to enter a land saturated with Baal worship and fertility cults. The command to 'cleave' to Yahweh alone anticipated the constant temptation toward syncretism that would plague Israel throughout the Judges and monarchy periods.
Questions for Reflection
- What competing allegiances (career, comfort, popularity) tempt you to divide your loyalty from 'cleaving' exclusively to Christ?
- How does the marital imagery of 'cleaving' to God deepen your understanding of covenantal relationship with Christ?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God—The Hebrew yare (fear) combines reverential awe and obedient submission, not servile terror. This fear is relational, grounded in God's covenant character (v. 17-19). Him shalt thou serve (avad, serve/worship) demands exclusive allegiance. To him shalt thou cleave uses dabaq (cleave/cling), the same word for marital union (Genesis 2:24), depicting covenant intimacy and loyalty.
Swear by his name means invoking Yahweh as witness to oaths, affirming He alone is the ultimate authority and truth. Jesus's 'You cannot serve two masters' (Matthew 6:24) and His identification as the bridegroom (John 3:29) echo this covenantal exclusivity. Paul commands us to 'cleave' to Christ (Romans 12:9, using the Greek equivalent). The trilogy—fear, serve, cleave—defines total devotion that prefigures union with Christ.