Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 180:717 (Jan 2023)
Article: What Does Yahweh Ask Of You? The Five Infinitives Of Deuteronomy 10:12–13
Author: James W. Knox

BSac 180:717 (January-March 2023) p. 38

What Does Yahweh Ask Of You? The Five Infinitives Of Deuteronomy 10:12–13

James W. Knox

James W. Knox is an adjunct professor of Old Testament at Criswell College in Dallas, Texas.

* This is a revised and expanded version of the section “How Wisdom’s יראת יהוה Compares to Deuteronomy’s ‘Fear of God’” in chapter 3 of James W. Knox, “God’s in His Heaven—All’s Right with the World! The Concept of ‘Fearing God’ in Ecclesiastes” (PhD diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 2022), 112–20.

Abstract

Deuteronomy 10:12–13 is a fascinating passage since it is the only time in Scripture where the five verbs “to fear,” “to walk,” “to love,” “to serve,” and “to keep” appear together. This raises a question that has not received much consideration in commentaries: How do they function together? To address this question, this article surveys proposed meanings for the five terms within Deuteronomy, examines scholarly explanations of their relationship, and offers an interpretation of the passage’s structure.

Micah 6:8 states, “What does Yahweh require of you but to enact justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”1 This well-known verse, providing the basis for many songs and hymns, is one of the most succinct descriptions of God’s expectations for his people in the Old Testament. A passage in Deuteronomy serves a similar function:2

BSac 180:717 (January-March 2023) p. 39

Now, O Israel, what does Yahweh your God ask of you but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all of his ways, to love him, to serve Yahweh your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul, [and] to keep Yahweh’s commandments and statutes that I am giving you today for your own good? (10:12–13)

While Micah presents three complex ideas with qualifications “enact justice,” “love mercy,” and “walk humbly,” Deuteronomy contains five simple verbs in the form of infinitives: “to fear,” “to walk,” “to love,” “to serve,” and “to keep.” All five verbs are common throughout the Old Testament, yet each is loaded with significance both outside and within Deuteronomy. Furthermore, this is the only time in Scripture where all five verbs occur together as well as the only time that “fear” (ירא) and “love” (You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe