G3
We are to know that God is echad.
Category: God & Yeshua
Type: Positive
Form: Implied
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Not unique
Classical commandment: Yes
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Everyone
Literal Application: mandated
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Detailed codes: GFm - Gentile female, mandated | GMm - Gentile male, mandated | JFm - Jewish female, mandated | JMm - Jewish male, mandated | KFm - K'rovat Yisrael female, mandated | KMm - K'rov Yisrael male, mandated
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 8:6
- Hebrews 1:1-5
- Matthew 28:18-19
- 1 Peter 1:1-2
Key OT Scriptures
-
Deuteronomy 6:4
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Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
The Hebrew word for "our God" in Deuteronomy 6:4 is " Eloheynu ", which is the first person plural possessive of " Elohim " - a word which, despite its plurality, all Genesis 1:1 translators agree means "God". In addition, the English word "one" in Deuteronomy 6:4 is the Hebrew word " echad ", which is a composite (and not an absolute) unity. So, while our God is plural in His nature, He is one God and not many Gods combined into one. This is a great mystery for which we have no natural example to aid our understanding. Wherever it occurs in Scripture, the Hebrew word " Elohim " (along with its derivatives), although plural, is universally translated as "God", and the Hebrew word " echad ", a composite unity, is most often translated "one".
Classical commentators
Maimonides, Meir, and HaChinuch express this mitzvah as "knowing that God is a unity." They emphasize the singleness of the unity by adding that God has no partner or associate, and are in agreement that believing in the unity of God is a core belief of the Jewish faith. None of the commentators acknowledge or discuss the composite nature of " echad ", or the plural nature of " Elohim ".
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Classical sources
Maimonides
Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 12th century) organized all 613 Torah commandments into a structured list. These linked items show where this Law of Messiah commandment overlaps with that classical framework.
Meir of Rothenburg
Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg (13th century, Germany) was a leading Talmudic authority. These reference numbers link this commandment to his halachic rulings.
MP2
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2