Deuteronomy 30:6
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Original Language Analysis
וּמָ֨ל
will circumcise
H4135
וּמָ֨ל
will circumcise
Strong's:
H4135
Word #:
1 of 18
to cut short, i.e., curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e., to circumcise); by implication, to blunt; figuratively, to destroy
יְהוָ֧ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 18
(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 18
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
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
זַרְעֶ֑ךָ
of thy seed
H2233
זַרְעֶ֑ךָ
of thy seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
8 of 18
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֧ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
12 of 18
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
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וּבְכָל
H3605
וּבְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
15 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
נַפְשְׁךָ֖
and with all thy soul
H5315
נַפְשְׁךָ֖
and with all thy soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
Cross References
Deuteronomy 10:16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.Jeremiah 32:39And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:Colossians 2:11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:Jeremiah 4:4Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.Deuteronomy 6:5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.1 John 4:7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.Matthew 22:37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.Romans 11:26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:1 Corinthians 8:3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Historical Context
Old covenant prophets recognized Israel's persistent hard-heartedness despite possessing external covenant signs. Jeremiah condemned Israel as having uncircumcised hearts (Jeremiah 9:26).
This promise awaited New Covenant fulfillment through Spirit's regenerating work in believers, producing internal change enabling genuine love and obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- What does heart circumcision teach about need for internal transformation?
- Why must God circumcise hearts rather than humans achieving this?
- How does this anticipate New Covenant promise of new heart?
- What is the relationship between heart transformation and genuine love for God?
- How does Paul's teaching on spiritual circumcision fulfill this promise?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. This crucial verse promises internal transformation - circumcise thine heart - pointing beyond external covenant sign to inner spiritual reality. Circumcision of flesh symbolizes cutting away sin's domination from the heart.
The declaration that the LORD...will circumcise identifies this as divine work, not human achievement. People cannot circumcise their own hearts; God must perform this spiritual surgery. This anticipates New Covenant promise of new heart and new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).
The result of heart circumcision is to love the LORD...with all thine heart - producing wholehearted devotion previously impossible under external law. Internal transformation enables genuine obedience from renewed affections.
Paul later contrasts physical circumcision with circumcision of the heart by the Spirit (Romans 2:29), identifying this as the mark of true covenant membership.