Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 6:7
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 Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites at the covenant renewal, immediately after commanding the words to be "upon your hearts" (Deut 6:6) and before the physical sign commands (Deut 6:8). The audience is the whole community, with the instruction aimed at the next generation.
The words — שִׁנֵּן (shin·nên, H8150) is the operative verb: literally "to sharpen, to drill, to repeat insistently," not a one-time lecture but a grinding, repeated act. The BSB's "teach diligently" softens the root sense of mechanical, persistent repetition.
The thread — Deuteronomy 11:19 repeats the identical four-setting formula (sit, walk, lie down, rise) as a parallel covenant charge. The principle of passing instruction to children across generations appears in Psalms 78:4 and the New Testament echo in Ephesians 6:4.
Why it lands — The verse removes any gap in the day: sitting, walking, lying down, getting up leave no unspoken hour. It asks for the covenant words to become the ambient sound of a household, not a scheduled event.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James 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.
Cross-references
- 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.
- Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Psalms 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.
- 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
- 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 6:2 so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged.
- Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
- Proverbs 6:22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
- Exodus 12:26 When your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’