The Book of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell address on the plains of Moab, renewing the covenant and calling Israel to love and obey God as they enter the Promised Land. Jesus quoted it more than any other Old Testament book.
- Testament
- Old (34 chapters)
- Type
- Law
- Author
- Traditionally Moses (preached, with a postscript on his death added by another hand). Scholars connect it to a 7th c. BC reform under King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23).
- Date
- Traditionally late 13th c. BC, on the eve of entering Canaan; compiled into its current shape later.
Wholehearted love of God
The Shema — 'Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might' (6:4-5) — is Israel's foundational confession and Jesus' 'greatest commandment' (Mark 12:29-30).
Covenant blessing and curse
Chapters 27-30 lay out the consequences of fidelity and apostasy. God offers a clear choice: life or death, blessing or curse. The book closes with 'I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life' (30:19) — one of the great moments in Scripture.
Key verses (KJV)
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” — Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (KJV)
“Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” — Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV)
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” — Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)
How to read Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is sermon, not law-code — read it as you would read Moses preaching. Chapters 5-11 and 27-34 are the spine. Read 6:4-9 daily as the Jewish Shema for a week; it changes how Jesus' teaching sounds.
Read Deuteronomy on your iPhone
Read the full book of Deuteronomy in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
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