Deuteronomy 30:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will remove the hardness from your hearts and your descendants', enabling you to love him completely—the true source of life.
The Context of Deuteronomy 30:6
God will transform hearts inwardly, enabling authentic love and covenant life.
What Does Deuteronomy 30:6 Mean?
Circumcision of the heart is the covenant's inward reality: the outward sign (physical circumcision) points to an inner transformation only God can accomplish. Moses speaks of God's work, not human effort. The phrase 'that thou mayest live' connects heart-renewal to life itself; obedience born from hardened hearts is dead compliance; obedience from a circumcised (transformed) heart is living devotion.
The phrase 'to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul' echoes the Shema (6:5) and defines the covenant's heart. This verse reveals that the capacity to keep the law comes from God's prior work in the human heart. No human can generate this love; it flows from the Holy One who circumcises, transforms, and enables genuine devotion.
Deuteronomy 30:6 in the Original Language
malal (מָלַל), 'circumcise' — from the root meaning to cut, remove; here, removal of hardness from the heart to create capacity for covenant love.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 30:6
What does Deuteronomy 30:6 mean?
God will remove the hardness from your hearts and your descendants', enabling you to love him completely—the true source of life.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 30:6?
God will transform hearts inwardly, enabling authentic love and covenant life.