The Meaning of Deuteronomy 30:2 Explained

Deuteronomy 30:2

KJV: And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

YLT: and hast turned back unto Jehovah thy God, and hearkened to His voice, according to all that I am commanding thee to-day, thou and thy sons, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul --

Darby: and shalt return to Jehovah thy God, and shalt hearken to his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy sons, with all thy heart and with all thy soul;

ASV: and shalt return unto Jehovah thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And shalt return  unto the LORD  thy God,  and shalt obey  his voice  according to all that I command  thee this day,  thou and thy children,  with all thine heart,  and with all thy soul; 

What does Deuteronomy 30:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 30:1-10 - Promises To Returning Wanderers
The Hebrew people have often turned to this chapter in the belief that the day must come when God will pity their forlorn condition and restore them from "the outmost parts of heaven." They do not consider that the promise was fulfilled in the return of a handful of their race under Nehemiah and Ezra.
The precious promise of Deuteronomy 30:6, where the initial rite of Judaism is to have its spiritual fulfillment, should be compared with Isaiah 52:1. The time is coming when all Israel shall be saved from the mere external badge of their national prerogative, and shall be converted to the true faith in Christ, as their Messiah and Savior. See Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:11. Then will God rejoice over them for good. Even now, as the true Israel of God, we may claim this rejoicing for ourselves! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 30

1  Great mercies promised unto the penitent
11  The commandment is manifest
15  Death and life are set before them

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 30:2 mean?

And you return to Yahweh your God and obey His voice according to all that I command you today you and your children with all your heart and with all your soul
וְשַׁבְתָּ֞ עַד־ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֣ בְקֹל֔וֹ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם אַתָּ֣ה וּבָנֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל־ לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־ נַפְשֶֽׁךָ

וְשַׁבְתָּ֞  And  you  return 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֣  and  obey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְקֹל֔וֹ  His  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
כְּכֹ֛ל  according  to  all 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
מְצַוְּךָ֖  command  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
הַיּ֑וֹם  today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וּבָנֶ֔יךָ  and  your  children 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בְּכָל־  with  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לְבָבְךָ֖  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
וּבְכָל־  and  with  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
נַפְשֶֽׁךָ  your  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.