The Shema is one of the most foundational of faith in the Bible. Found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, it states:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, ESV)

This passage, recited daily by observant Jews for centuries, emphasizes the oneness of God and the call to love Him with everything we have. But how does this ancient declaration relate to Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah? Does the Shema contradict the belief in Yeshua’s divine nature, or does it actually affirm it? Let’s explore the Shema in light of the Messiah.

1. The Meaning of “One” (Echad) in the Shema

The Hebrew word for “one” in the Shema is “echad.” Unlike the word “yachid,” which means an absolute singularity, “echad“ often refers to a composite unity. For example:

• Genesis 2:24 – “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one (echad) flesh.”
• Exodus 26:6 – The many parts of the Tabernacle were joined together to become one (echad) unit.

This suggests that the oneness of God is not necessarily an absolute numerical singularity but a complex unity. This understanding lays the foundation for seeing how Yeshua is included in the divine nature without violating the Shema.

2. Yeshua and the Father: A Unified Relationship

Yeshua Himself affirmed the Shema when asked about the greatest commandment:

“The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord (Yahweh) our God, the Lord (Yahweh) is one.'”(Mark 12:29)

However, Yeshua also made remarkable statements about His own divine nature:

• “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
• “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)

These declarations align with the Shema rather than contradict it. Yeshua did not teach a second god or contradict the oneness of God. Instead, He revealed a deeper understanding – that the Father and the Son share the divine nature in perfect unity. Yeshua is Elohim and Yahweh is Elohim.

3. The Shema and the Holy Spirit

Beyond Yeshua’s identity, the Shema also makes room for the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Throughout Scripture, the Spirit of God is distinct from the Father yet fully divine (Genesis 1:2, Isaiah 48:16, John 14:16-17).

When Yeshua commands His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), He presents a unified divine nature, not three separate gods. This is a reflection of the Shema’s unity within Yeshua, the Father and the Ruach.

4. Loving God Through the Messiah

The second half of the Shema commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. Yeshua makes this possible in a profound way:

• Through Yeshua, we see the fullest revelation of God’s love (John 3:16).
• Through His Spirit, we are empowered to love God fully (Romans 5:5).
• Through His atonement, we are brought into relationship with the Father (John 14:6).

Thus, accepting Yeshua as Messiah does not contradict the Shema – it fulfills its deepest purpose by allowing us to love God as He desires.

Conclusion

The Shema is not a denial of Yeshua’s divinity but a foundation for understanding God’s unity and complexity. In Yeshua, we see the full expression of God’s nature – the Father, the Son, and the Spirit – one God, echad, in perfect unity, a perfect manifestation of each in its own place in creation.

Believing in Yeshua does not mean abandoning the Shema but embracing its deepest meaning. Through Him, we come to know and love Elohim (God) with all our heart, soul, and strength.

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad! – Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One!

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