Deuteronomy 6:7
New International Version
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

New Living Translation
Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

English Standard Version
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Berean Standard Bible
And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Berean Literal Bible
And you shall teach them diligently to your children and talk of them in your sitting in your house and in your walking by the way and in your lying down and in your getting up.

King James Bible
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

New King James Version
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

New American Standard Bible
And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.

NASB 1995
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

NASB 1977
and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Legacy Standard Bible
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Amplified Bible
You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.

Berean Annotated Bible
And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Christian Standard Bible
Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

American Standard Version
and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Contemporary English Version
and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you're at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.

English Revised Version
and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you're at home or away, when you lie down or get up.

Good News Translation
Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.

International Standard Version
Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up.

NET Bible
and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.

New Heart English Bible
and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

World English Bible
and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have repeated them to your sons, and spoken of them in your sitting in your house, and in your walking in the way, and in your lying down, and in your rising up,

Berean Literal Bible
And you shall teach them diligently to your children and talk of them in your sitting in your house and in your walking by the way and in your lying down and in your getting up.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast repeated them to thy sons, and spoken of them in thy sitting in thine house, and in thy walking in the way, and in thy lying down, and in thy rising up,

Smith's Literal Translation
And sharpen them to thy sons, and speak in them in thy resting in thy house, and in thy going in the way, and in thy lying down and in thy rising up.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate upon them sitting in thy house, and walking on thy journey, sleeping and rising.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall explain them to your sons. And you shall meditate upon them sitting in your house, and walking on a journey, when lying down and when rising up.

New American Bible
Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up.

New Revised Standard Version
Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall repeat them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall repeat them to your children and speak with them when you sit in your house and when you go in the way and whenever you lie down and when you rise.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt teach them to thy children, and thou shalt speak of them sitting in the house, and walking by the way, and lying down, and rising up.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Greatest Commandment
6These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. 7And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.…

Cross References
And you shall teach them diligently to your children

Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.

Deuteronomy 31:12-13
Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law. / Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Psalm 78:5-7
For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, / that the coming generation would know them—even children yet to be born—to arise and tell their own children / that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.
and speak of them when you sit at home

Deuteronomy 11:19
Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Psalm 78:4
We will not hide them from their children but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might and the wonders He has performed.

Proverbs 6:20-22
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. / Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck. / When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
and when you walk along the road,

Luke 24:15-16
And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them. / But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.

Acts 8:30-35
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. / “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. / The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. …

Proverbs 3:23
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
when you lie down

Psalm 4:4
Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah

Psalm 63:6
When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night.

Psalm 16:7
I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me.
and when you get up.

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

Psalm 143:8
Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

And thou shalt

Deuteronomy 6:2
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Deuteronomy 4:9,10
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; …

Deuteronomy 11:19
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

teach [heb] whet, or sharpen

Ruth 2:4,12
And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee…

Ruth 4:11
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Jump to Previous
Care Children Diligently Home House Impress Lie Repeated Rest Rise Risest Rising Road Sit Sittest Sitting Sleep Talk Talking Teach Teaching Walk Walkest Walking Way
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Care Children Diligently Home House Impress Lie Repeated Rest Rise Risest Rising Road Sit Sittest Sitting Sleep Talk Talking Teach Teaching Walk Walkest Walking Way
Deuteronomy 6
1. The end of the law is obedience
3. An exhortation thereto
20. What they are to teach their children












And you shall teach them diligently to your children
This phrase emphasizes the importance of passing down God's commandments to the next generation. In the ancient Israelite context, education was primarily the responsibility of the family, particularly the parents. The Hebrew word for "teach diligently" implies a sharpening or engraving, suggesting that these teachings should be deeply impressed upon the children. This aligns with Proverbs 22:6, which advises training a child in the way they should go. The family unit is seen as the primary context for spiritual education, reflecting the covenantal relationship between God and His people.

and speak of them when you sit at home
The home is portrayed as a central place for spiritual instruction and discussion. In ancient Israel, homes were not just physical structures but centers of family life and worship. This phrase suggests that God's commandments should be a natural part of daily conversation, integrated into the fabric of everyday life. This practice is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to let the word of Christ dwell richly among them (Colossians 3:16).

and when you walk along the road
This phrase indicates that teaching and discussing God's commandments should not be confined to the home but should extend to all aspects of life, including travel and work. In the historical context, walking was a common mode of transportation, and journeys provided opportunities for teaching and reflection. This reflects the idea that God's word should guide believers in all their ways, as seen in Psalm 119:105, where God's word is described as a lamp to the feet and a light to the path.

when you lie down
The mention of lying down suggests that the day should begin and end with thoughts of God's commandments. In Jewish tradition, the Shema, which includes Deuteronomy 6:4-9, is recited in the morning and evening, reinforcing the idea of constant meditation on God's word. This practice is mirrored in Psalm 1:2, where the blessed person meditates on the law of the Lord day and night.

and when you get up
Rising in the morning is another opportunity to focus on God's commandments, setting the tone for the day. This continual engagement with God's word is a form of spiritual discipline, ensuring that His teachings are ever-present in the believer's life. The practice of morning devotion is seen throughout scripture, as in Mark 1:35, where Jesus rises early to pray, demonstrating the importance of starting the day with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who delivered God's laws and commandments to the people. He is the speaker in Deuteronomy, reiterating God's laws before the Israelites enter the Promised Land.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are receiving the law and commandments as they prepare to enter Canaan, the land promised to their ancestors.

3. Canaan
The Promised Land that the Israelites are about to enter. It represents a place of fulfillment of God's promises and a new beginning for the nation.

4. Mount Sinai
The place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God, which forms the foundation of the laws being reiterated in Deuteronomy.

5. The Shema
A central declaration of the Jewish faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, emphasizing the oneness of God and the importance of loving Him with all one's heart, soul, and strength.
Teaching Points
Diligent Teaching
The Hebrew word for "impress" (shanan) implies a sharp, repeated action, suggesting that teaching God's commandments should be intentional and consistent.

Everyday Conversations
The verse encourages integrating discussions about God into daily life, whether at home or on the go, highlighting the importance of making faith a natural part of everyday interactions.

Family Discipleship
Parents are called to be the primary spiritual educators of their children, emphasizing the role of the family in faith formation.

Holistic Approach
The instruction to teach when sitting, walking, lying down, and getting up suggests a comprehensive approach to spiritual education that encompasses all aspects of life.

Legacy of Faith
By impressing God's commandments on children, parents contribute to a legacy of faith that can impact future generations.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 6:7?

2. How can you diligently teach God's commands to your children daily?

3. What does "talk of them when you sit" imply about family discussions?

4. How does Deuteronomy 6:7 connect with Proverbs 22:6 on child upbringing?

5. In what ways can you incorporate God's Word into daily routines?

6. Why is it important to discuss God's commands "when you walk along the road"?

7. How does Deuteronomy 6:7 emphasize the importance of teaching children about faith daily?

8. What methods can be used to effectively teach children as instructed in Deuteronomy 6:7?

9. Why is repetition emphasized in Deuteronomy 6:7 for teaching God's commandments?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 6?

11. How does the Bible become oversimplified for children?

12. How should parents guide their children biblically?

13. What is a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah?

14. What is oral tradition in the Bible?
What Does Deuteronomy 6:7 Mean
And you shall teach them diligently to your children

Deuteronomy 6:7: “And you shall teach them diligently to your children …”

• The “them” are the commandments just given (vv. 1–6). God expects parents, not institutions, to be the primary disciplers.

• “Diligently” implies intentional, persistent effort—more than casual conversation (Deuteronomy 4:9; Psalm 78:5-7).

• Practical ways:

– Tell the stories of God’s faithfulness (Joshua 4:6-7).

– Model obedience—children imitate what they see (1 Corinthians 11:1).

– Correct and encourage (Ephesians 6:4).

– Saturate the home atmosphere with Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15).


and speak of them when you sit at home

• Ordinary moments in the living room or at the table become teachable opportunities (Joshua 24:15).

• Scripture is meant for relaxed conversation, not just formal study (Psalm 1:2; Colossians 3:16).

• Ideas: read aloud after dinner, discuss headlines through a biblical lens, share answered prayers.


and when you walk along the road

• God’s Word goes with us into public life—errands, commutes, vacations (Deuteronomy 11:19).

• As we travel we point out His handiwork (Psalm 19:1) and apply truth to real-time decisions (Psalm 119:105).

• Jesus modeled road-side teaching on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:27, 32).


when you lie down

• The day ends by turning minds toward the Lord (Psalm 4:4; 63:6).

• Bedtime prayers, recounting blessings, forgiving before sleep (Ephesians 4:26) help hearts rest in peace (Psalm 127:2).


and when you get up

• Mornings set the tone—meet God first (Psalm 5:3; Mark 1:35).

• Family routines: a verse at breakfast, a short blessing before school, committing plans to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3).

• God’s mercies are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23), and we respond with renewed obedience.


summary

Deuteronomy 6:7 calls parents to weave God’s commandments into every rhythm of life—home or away, night or morning—so the next generation grows up hearing, seeing, and living the truth continuously.

(7) And thou shalt teach them diligently.--The same Jewish commentator remarks that there should be no hesitation in answering anything that a man might ask. Had this system of education been carried on from the first, the history of Israel would hare been very different from what it is.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And you shall teach them diligently
וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם (wə·šin·nan·tām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8150: To point, to pierce, to inculcate

to your children
לְבָנֶ֔יךָ (lə·ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and speak of them
וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ (wə·ḏib·bar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

when you sit
בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ (bə·šiḇ·tə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in your house
בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ (bə·ḇê·ṯe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and when you walk
וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ (ū·ḇə·leḵ·tə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

along the road,
בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ (ḇad·de·reḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

when you lie down
וּֽבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ (ū·ḇə·šā·ḵə·bə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

and when you get up.
וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃ (ū·ḇə·qū·me·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 6:7 And you shall teach them diligently (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 6:6
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