Q&A: Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. What does it mean?
Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. What does it mean?
Question
Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
What is the plain meaning of this verse?
Answer
For questions like these, there are Bible commentators, if you insist that you can’t understand it on your own. If you have a specific difficulty, raise it.
Discussion on Answer
No. That He is also our God, and He is also one.
You already understood “And Lotan’s sister was Timna”?
Here there is a declaration that the Lord is our God. Doesn’t that seem significant to you?
Sorry,
Apparently I didn’t understand; I’m missing some background.
I understand what 1 means.
But what is “the Lord,” and what is “our God”?
With God’s help, 5 Adar I, 5784
Regarding the intent of the first verse of the Shema, see the “Daily Jewish Law” site of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the “Peninei Halakha” site, and the article by Simcha Henshke, “The Intention in the First Verse of the Shema,” on the Herzog College website.
Best regards, Fish”l
As I recall, it is brought in the name of the Vilna Gaon that the name “God” means the One who leads and oversees the world, and “the Lord our God” means: “the King of the world who watches over us in particular.” Rashi explains: “the Lord, who is now our God, the God of Israel, will be ‘the Lord is One’ — recognized by all humanity.”
Best regards, Fish”l
Do you mean that both the Lord and our God are 1?
And if so, why is that so critical?