The Meaning of Deuteronomy 6:2 Explained

Deuteronomy 6:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: so that thou dost fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all His statutes and His commands, which I am commanding thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all days of thy life, and so that thy days are prolonged.

Darby: that thou mayest fear Jehovah 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.

ASV: that thou mightest fear Jehovah 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Deuteronomy 6:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 6:1-19 - How To Treat God's Words
Obedience is still the one condition of true prosperity and success. Lands still flow with milk and honey; and they live long who live well. Lives are measured by heart-throbs, and not by figures on the dial.
Deuteronomy 6:4 is reckoned by pious Jews as one of the choicest portions of Scripture. They write it on their phylacteries and repeat it, with other verses, at least twice a day. Note the various methods for maintaining the religious atmosphere: (1) by meditation; (2) by the religious training of children; (3) by pious discourse and conversation; (4) by the persistent study of Scripture. When books are scarce, use wall-texts; but never substitute stray snippets, however sweet, for the whole meal of Scripture.
Let us not forget how many of our present privileges and spiritual advantages must be credited to the prayers and the tears, the labors and the sufferings, of those who have left these precious inheritances to us, their children and heirs! We drink of cisterns we never hewed! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 6

1  The end of the law is obedience
3  An exhortation thereto
20  What they are to teach their children

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 6:2 mean?

That you may fear - Yahweh your God to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you you and your son and your grandson all the days of your life that may be prolonged your days
לְמַ֨עַן תִּירָ֜א אֶת־ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ לִ֠שְׁמֹר כָּל־ חֻקֹּתָ֣יו וּמִצְוֺתָיו֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י מְצַוֶּךָ֒ אַתָּה֙ וּבִנְךָ֣ וּבֶן־ בִּנְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ וּלְמַ֖עַן יַאֲרִכֻ֥ן יָמֶֽיךָ

לְמַ֨עַן  That 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
תִּירָ֜א  you  may  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לִ֠שְׁמֹר  to  keep 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
חֻקֹּתָ֣יו  His  statutes 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֻקָּה  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed.
וּמִצְוֺתָיו֮  and  His  commandments 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
מְצַוֶּךָ֒  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.
וּבִנְךָ֣  and  your  son 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בִּנְךָ֔  your  grandson 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יְמֵ֣י  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
חַיֶּ֑יךָ  of  your  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
וּלְמַ֖עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
יַאֲרִכֻ֥ן  may  be  prolonged 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: אָרַךְ 
Sense: to be long, prolong.
יָמֶֽיךָ  your  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.