Deuteronomy 11:18
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
Original Language Analysis
וְשַׂמְתֶּם֙
Therefore shall ye lay up
H7760
וְשַׂמְתֶּם֙
Therefore shall ye lay up
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
1 of 17
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
דְּבָרַ֣י
these my words
H1697
דְּבָרַ֣י
these my words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 17
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַֽל
H5921
וְעַֽל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם
and in your soul
H5315
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם
and in your soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
8 of 17
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם
and bind
H7194
וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם
and bind
Strong's:
H7194
Word #:
9 of 17
to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league)
אֹתָ֤ם
H853
אֹתָ֤ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לְאוֹת֙
them for a sign
H226
לְאוֹת֙
them for a sign
Strong's:
H226
Word #:
11 of 17
a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יֶדְכֶ֔ם
upon your hand
H3027
יֶדְכֶ֔ם
upon your hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
13 of 17
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וְהָי֥וּ
H1961
וְהָי֥וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
14 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְטֽוֹטָפֹ֖ת
that they may be as frontlets
H2903
לְטֽוֹטָפֹ֖ת
that they may be as frontlets
Strong's:
H2903
Word #:
15 of 17
a fillet for the forehead
Cross References
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.Proverbs 3:1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:Psalms 119:11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.2 Peter 1:12Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.Exodus 13:9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.Deuteronomy 32:46And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.Hebrews 2:1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.Exodus 13:16And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
Historical Context
This command repeats Deuteronomy 6:8, establishing the practice of Scripture memorization and display. Exodus 13:9, 16 first introduced this concept regarding Passover remembrance. Post-exilic Judaism developed elaborate tefillin practices. Jesus criticized Pharisees who made ostentatious phylacteries while neglecting Scripture's heart (Matthew 23:5). True obedience internalizes God's word.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean to 'lay up' God's words in your heart versus merely reading or hearing them?
- How can Christians practice the spirit of this command (Scripture permeating thought and action) today?
- What is the danger of external religious observance without internal transformation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The remedy: 'lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul.' The Hebrew sum (שׂוּם, 'place, set, establish') indicates intentional, permanent placement. God's words must be internalized, not merely heard. The command continues: 'bind them for a sign upon your hand' and 'frontlets between your eyes.' This produced the Jewish practice of tefillin (phylacteries)—leather boxes containing Scripture worn during prayer. While the command may be partly figurative (meaning constant mindfulness), Jewish tradition took it literally. The point: Scripture should govern actions (hand) and thoughts (eyes/mind).