King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 30:6 Mean?

Deuteronomy 30:6 in the King James Version says “And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine hea... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Deuteronomy 30:6 · KJV


Context

4

If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:

5

And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

6

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

7

And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.

8

And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. This crucial verse promises internal transformation - circumcise thine heart - pointing beyond external covenant sign to inner spiritual reality. Circumcision of flesh symbolizes cutting away sin's domination from the heart.

The declaration that the LORD...will circumcise identifies this as divine work, not human achievement. People cannot circumcise their own hearts; God must perform this spiritual surgery. This anticipates New Covenant promise of new heart and new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).

The result of heart circumcision is to love the LORD...with all thine heart - producing wholehearted devotion previously impossible under external law. Internal transformation enables genuine obedience from renewed affections.

Paul later contrasts physical circumcision with circumcision of the heart by the Spirit (Romans 2:29), identifying this as the mark of true covenant membership.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Old covenant prophets recognized Israel's persistent hard-heartedness despite possessing external covenant signs. Jeremiah condemned Israel as having uncircumcised hearts (Jeremiah 9:26).

This promise awaited New Covenant fulfillment through Spirit's regenerating work in believers, producing internal change enabling genuine love and obedience.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does heart circumcision teach about need for internal transformation?
  2. Why must God circumcise hearts rather than humans achieving this?
  3. How does this anticipate New Covenant promise of new heart?
  4. What is the relationship between heart transformation and genuine love for God?
  5. How does Paul's teaching on spiritual circumcision fulfill this promise?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וּמָ֨ל1 of 18

will circumcise

H4135

to cut short, i.e., curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e., to circumcise); by implication, to blunt; figuratively, to destroy

יְהוָ֧ה2 of 18

And the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ3 of 18

thy God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֶת4 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לְבָֽבְךָ֥5 of 18

and the heart

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

וְאֶת6 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לְבָֽבְךָ֥7 of 18

and the heart

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

זַרְעֶ֑ךָ8 of 18

of thy seed

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

לְאַֽהֲבָ֞ה9 of 18

to love

H157

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

אֶת10 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְהוָ֧ה11 of 18

And the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ12 of 18

thy God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

בְּכָל13 of 18
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

לְבָֽבְךָ֥14 of 18

and the heart

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

וּבְכָל15 of 18
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

נַפְשְׁךָ֖16 of 18

and with all thy soul

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

לְמַ֥עַן17 of 18
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

חַיֶּֽיךָ׃18 of 18

that thou mayest live

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 30:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 30:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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