Deuteronomy 30:20
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Original Language Analysis
לְאַֽהֲבָה֙
That thou mayest love
H157
לְאַֽהֲבָה֙
That thou mayest love
Strong's:
H157
Word #:
1 of 25
to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 25
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 #:
3 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
4 of 25
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
לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ
and that thou mayest obey
H8085
לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ
and that thou mayest obey
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
5 of 25
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וּלְדָבְקָה
and that thou mayest cleave
H1692
וּלְדָבְקָה
and that thou mayest cleave
Strong's:
H1692
Word #:
7 of 25
properly, to impinge, i.e., cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
9 of 25
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
ה֤וּא
H1931
ה֤וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
10 of 25
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
חַיֶּ֙יךָ֙
unto him for he is thy life
H2416
חַיֶּ֙יךָ֙
unto him for he is thy life
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
11 of 25
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
יָמֶ֔יךָ
of thy days
H3117
יָמֶ֔יךָ
of thy days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
13 of 25
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
לָשֶׁ֣בֶת
that thou mayest dwell
H3427
לָשֶׁ֣בֶת
that thou mayest dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
14 of 25
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
17 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֨ע
sware
H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֨ע
sware
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
18 of 25
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
19 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ
unto thy fathers
H1
לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ
unto thy fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
20 of 25
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Cross References
Deuteronomy 10:20Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.Acts 17:25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;John 17:3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.Acts 17:28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.Psalms 66:9Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.Psalms 36:9For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.Deuteronomy 10:12And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,Deuteronomy 5:16Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.Deuteronomy 4:40Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.
Historical Context
This verse concludes Moses' covenant renewal address. The three imperatives—love, obey, cleave—summarize the entire law. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 as the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37), showing these themes' centrality. Israel's tragedy was repeatedly violating this—loving other gods, disobeying commands, cleaving to idols. The exile fulfilled the warning—failure to cleave to God meant expulsion from the land. New Testament believers experience this through union with Christ (John 15:4-5).
Questions for Reflection
- How do love, obedience, and clinging to God relate to each other in your spiritual life?
- What does the statement 'he is thy life' mean practically for daily priorities and affections?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Moses commands: 'That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.' Three imperatives—love, obey, cleave—define covenant relationship. The Hebrew dabaq (cleave) describes marriage-like intimacy (Genesis 2:24), suggesting exclusive devotion. The rationale: 'he is thy life'—God isn't merely life-giver but life itself. Relationship with Him is the essence of existence, not merely one aspect of it.