What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 5?

Introduction to Deuteronomy 5

Deuteronomy 5 stands as one of the most pivotal chapters in the Torah, presenting the second iteration of the Ten Commandments and capturing a defining moment in Israel’s covenant relationship with יהוה (Yahweh). This chapter serves as a bridge between the generation that received the Law at Sinai and their children who would enter the Promised Land, demonstrating the timeless nature of God’s covenant and its relevance for each new generation.

Context of Deuteronomy 5

The setting of Deuteronomy 5 places us in the plains of Moab, where Moses delivers his final series of addresses to Israel before his death. This discourse occurs approximately 40 years after the original giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, addressing a new generation poised to enter the Promised Land. The chapter falls within Moses’ second discourse (Deuteronomy 4:44-28:68), which focuses on explaining and applying the Law.

This retelling of the Ten Commandments isn’t merely a repetition but serves a crucial purpose in God’s redemptive plan. It demonstrates how the covenant made at Sinai wasn’t just for one generation but was intended to be living and active for all of Israel’s future generations. The chapter emphasizes the personal nature of God’s relationship with His people, highlighting that His commands are not distant legal codes but intimate instructions for maintaining fellowship with Him.

Ancient Key Word Study

• Shema (שְׁמַע) – “Hear” (v. 1): More than just auditory perception, this Hebrew word implies attention, comprehension, and obedience. It’s a call to internalize and act upon what is heard, forming the basis for the famous “Shema Yisrael” prayer.
• B’rit (בְּרִית) – “Covenant” (v. 2-3): This term represents the binding relationship between God and Israel. Unlike ancient near-eastern treaties between unequal parties, this covenant uniquely combines legal obligations with intimate relationship.
• Panim el-Panim (פָּנִים אֶל-פָּנִים) – “Face to face” (v. 4): This phrase emphasizes the unique intimacy of God’s revelation to Israel, suggesting direct, personal communication rather than mediated revelation.
• Anochi (אָנֹכִי) – “I am” (v. 6): The personal pronoun used in the first commandment carries more weight than the standard “ani,” emphasizing God’s personal involvement and authority.
• Chesed (חֶסֶד) – “Lovingkindness” (v. 10): This rich term encompasses loyalty, faithfulness, and covenant love, showing God’s character in relationship to His people.
• Shav (שָׁוְא) – “Vain” (v. 11): Beyond just false swearing, this word encompasses emptiness, worthlessness, and futility, warning against any trivial use of God’s name.
• Shamor (שָׁמוֹר) – “Keep/Guard” (v. 12): Different from the “zachor” (remember) used in Exodus 20, this word emphasizes active preservation and protection of the Sabbath.
• Nachalah (נַחֲלָה) – “Inheritance” (v. 16): This term connects honoring parents with receiving the promised inheritance, linking family harmony with national blessing.

Compare & Contrast

• The use of “Shamor” (keep) instead of “Zachor” (remember) for the Sabbath command reflects a shift from establishing the command (Exodus) to maintaining it (Deuteronomy). This choice emphasizes the ongoing nature of Sabbath observance and its role in preserving Israel’s identity.
• The expanded explanation of the Sabbath command connects it to Israel’s redemption from Egypt rather than creation (as in Exodus 20). This shift personalizes the command for Israel’s historical experience while maintaining its universal significance.
• The phrase “as יהוה your God commanded you” appears in both the Sabbath and parent-honoring commands, uniquely emphasizing their prior establishment and ongoing authority.
• The addition of “that it may go well with you” to the parent-honoring command connects familial respect with national prosperity in the land, reinforcing the covenant’s multigenerational nature.
• The prohibition against coveting places the neighbor’s wife first (unlike Exodus 20), possibly reflecting the increased threat to family stability as Israel prepared to settle in Canaan.
• The use of “Elohim” rather than the divine name in certain verses reflects careful theological distinction between God’s transcendent and covenant aspects.
• The emphasis on the covenant being made “with us” (present generation) rather than just the fathers highlights the Law’s continuing relevance and authority.

Deuteronomy 5 Unique Insights

The chapter presents a fascinating tension between divine transcendence and immanence. While God speaks to Israel “face to face,” the people still require Moses as mediator, foreshadowing the ultimate mediator, Yeshua the Messiah. This paradox reflects the complex nature of God’s relationship with humanity – both intimate and awesome.

The Rabbinical tradition notes that the Hebrew text contains exactly 613 letters in the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. This numerical alignment suggests that the Decalogue serves as a summary or foundation for all other commands, each letter representing a specific aspect of God’s will for His people.

The change from “remember” to “keep” the Sabbath has profound implications in Jewish mystical thought. The Zohar teaches that these two aspects represent different dimensions of Sabbath observance – “remember” corresponding to positive commands and male aspects of God’s nature, while “keep” relates to prohibitions and female aspects, suggesting the Sabbath’s role in restoring cosmic harmony.

Deuteronomy 5 Connections to Yeshua

The mediatorial role of Moses in this chapter prefigures Yeshua’s greater mediation of the New Covenant. Just as Moses stood between God and Israel, explaining and applying the covenant, Yeshua stands as the perfect mediator of a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6).

The people’s fear of God’s presence and need for a mediator points to humanity’s universal need for reconciliation through the Messiah. Their response, “We will hear and do” (v. 27), finds its ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua, who perfectly heard and did God’s will, enabling His followers to do the same through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 5 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates throughout Scripture, establishing patterns that echo through both Testaments. The Ten Commandments reappear in various forms, from the prophets’ calls to covenant faithfulness (Jeremiah 7:9) to Yeshua’s deepening of their meaning in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-30).

The theme of divine encounter and mediation appears in key moments like Isaiah’s temple vision (Isaiah 6) and the transfiguration of Yeshua (Matthew 17:1-8). The concept of covenant renewal influences later passages like Joshua 24 and Nehemiah 9-10.

Deuteronomy 5 Devotional

As we reflect on this chapter, we’re called to examine our own relationship with God’s commands. Do we see them as burdensome rules or as loving instructions from our heavenly Father? The Israelites’ response, “All that יהוה has spoken we will do” (v. 27), challenges us to consider our own commitment to obedience.

The chapter reminds us that God’s commands are given for our good (v. 29). Just as a loving parent sets boundaries for their children’s protection and flourishing, our heavenly Father’s commandments are designed to lead us into abundant life. How might viewing God’s law through this lens transform our approach to spiritual disciplines and moral choices?

Did You Know

• The Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5 contain subtle but significant differences from their Exodus 20 counterpart, with about 14 textual variations.
• The Hebrew text uses a distinct form of the negative command (לֹא) twenty-five times in this chapter, emphasizing the absolute nature of these prohibitions.
• The phrase “as יהוה your God commanded you” appears only in Deuteronomy’s version of the Ten Commandments, not in Exodus.
• Ancient Jewish tradition teaches that both versions of the Ten Commandments were spoken simultaneously by God, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of divine truth.
• The physical arrangement of the Ten Commandments on the stone tablets likely followed the pattern of ancient near eastern covenant documents, with duplicates made for both parties.
• The word count of the Hebrew text in this chapter contains significant numerical patterns relating to ancient Hebrew numerical symbolism.
• Archaeological discoveries have shown that the format of the Ten Commandments follows the pattern of ancient Hittite suzerain-vassal treaties, but with unique theological adaptations.
• The description of God speaking “face to face” uses a Hebrew idiom that appears only seven times in the entire Torah.
• The promise of long life in the land (v. 16) is the first command with an explicit promise attached to it.
• The final verse of the chapter uses a Hebrew word for “well” (יָטַב) that appears frequently in Deuteronomy but rarely in the rest of the Torah, emphasizing the book’s unique focus on blessing through obedience.