Deuteronomy 10:16

10:16 Therefore, cleanse ¹  your heart and stop being so stubborn! ² 

Deuteronomy 30:6

30:6 The Lord your God will also cleanse ³  your heart and the hearts of your descendants ⁴  so that you may love him ⁵  with all your mind and being and so that you may live.

[10:16]  ¹ tn Heb “circumcise the foreskin of” (cf. KJV, ASV, NRSV). Reference to the Abrahamic covenant prompts Moses to recall the sign of that covenant, namely, physical circumcision (Gen 17:9-14). Just as that act signified total covenant obedience, so spiritual circumcision (cleansing of the heart) signifies more internally a commitment to be pliable and obedient to the will of God (cf. Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4; 9:26).

[10:16]  ² tn Heb “your neck do not harden again.” See note on the word “stubborn” in Deut 9:6.

[30:6]  ³ tn Heb “circumcise” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “will give you and your descendents obedient hearts.” See note on the word “cleanse” in Deut 10:16.

[30:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “seed” (so KJV, ASV).

[30:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on the second occurrence of the word “he” in v. 3.