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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 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Deuteronomy 10:12
And 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,

shalt swear

Leviticus 19:12
And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: Iam the LORD.

Joshua 2:12
Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

Psalm 15:4
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD.He that sweareth tohis own hurt, and changeth not.

Serve Him only
This command underscores the exclusivity of worship due to God alone, rejecting idolatry and syncretism. In the historical context, Israel was surrounded by nations with polytheistic practices, and this directive was a call to remain distinct and faithful. Serving God involves both worship and obedience, as seen inJoshua 24:15, where Joshua challenges the Israelites to choose whom they will serve. This phrase also prefigures Jesus' response to Satan inMatthew 4:10, affirming the singular devotion to God.

And take your oaths in His name
Oaths in the ancient world were solemn promises often invoking a deity as a witness. By instructing the Israelites to take oaths in God's name, the text emphasizes the seriousness and truthfulness required in their commitments. This practice distinguished Israel from surrounding nations, who swore by their gods. It reflects the third commandment's call to not misuse God's name (Exodus 20:7). Jesus later expands on this inMatthew 5:33-37, teaching about the integrity of one's word without the need for oaths.

“Fear the LORD your God…” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

• This “fear” is not terror that drives us from God but reverent awe that draws us to obey Him (Proverbs 1:7;Hebrews 12:28–29).

• It recognizes His absolute holiness, justice, and power (Exodus 15:11).

• Scripture links such fear to life, wisdom, and blessing (Psalm 112:1;Ecclesiastes 12:13).

• Jesus affirmed it: “Do not fear those who kill the body… rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

• Practically, fearing God means putting His Word first in every decision and rejecting the casual attitude our culture often takes toward sin.

“…serve Him only…” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

• Service flows naturally from reverence; what we revere, we obey (Joshua 24:14–15).

• “Only” underscores exclusivity—no competing loyalties or hidden idols (1 Samuel 7:3).

• Jesus used this exact command against Satan’s temptation: “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:10), showing its ongoing authority.

• True service involves:

– Whole-hearted obedience (John 14:15)

– Daily faithfulness in the ordinary (Colossians 3:23-24)

– Readiness to stand apart from cultural idols such as materialism or self-exaltation (1 John 5:21).

• Serving God alone guards us from double-mindedness: “You cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16:13).

“…and take your oaths in His name.” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

• An oath invokes the Lord as witness, acknowledging that truth is sacred (Deuteronomy 10:20;Isaiah 65:16).

• Swearing by His name forbids appealing to lesser “gods” and reinforces Israel’s covenant identity.

• It binds the speaker to honesty; to lie under God’s name is to profane it (Leviticus 19:12).

• While Christ later warns against careless swearing (Matthew 5:33-37;James 5:12), the principle remains: if an oath is necessary, it must be truthful and God-honoring.

• Today our “yes” and “no” should carry such integrity that extra vows become largely unnecessary.

Deuteronomy 6:13 calls for a threefold response to the Lord: reverent awe, exclusive devotion, and integrity-filled speech. To fear Him is to recognize His unrivaled greatness; to serve Him only is to reject every rival master; to swear by His name is to ground every word in His truth. Together these commands cultivate a life centered wholly on the Lord, reflecting His holiness in heart, action, and speech.

And shalt swear by his name.--Comp.Exodus 23:13. "Make no mention of the name of other gods." The principle was not unknown to the patriarchs. Laban appealed to the "God of Nahor," but "Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac" (Genesis 31:53). (Comp.Jeremiah 5:7 : "Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by . . . no-gods.")