Common misinterpretations of this verse include viewing 'fear the LORD' as cowering terror rather than reverential awe and trust; reducing 'serve' to mere ritualistic worship instead of whole-life obedience; treating 'cleave' as superficial loyalty rather than intimate, unwavering attachment like marriage; or applying 'swear by his name' to casual profanity rather than formal oaths invoking God's authority exclusively, often ignoring the verse's call for singular devotion in a polytheistic context.
Deuteronomy 10:20
King James Version (1769)
20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
Deuteronomy 10:20 commands Israel to revere the Lord their God with deep awe and respect, to serve Him exclusively with devotion and obedience, to hold fast to Him in loyal commitment through life's trials, and to pledge allegiance by swearing oaths only in His name, emphasizing total fidelity to Yahweh amid surrounding pagan influences as part of renewing the covenant after the golden calf incident.