Stanza 2

Translation and commentary by Moshe Miller

"Observe" and "Remember" in a single word,

He caused us to hear, the One and Only Lord.

G-d is One and His Name is One,

For renown, for glory and in song.

Observe and Remember... The Ten Commandments appear twice in the  Torah (Ex. 20:7 ff, Deut 5:11 ff). In the first instance the word "zachor" (remember) is used, and in the second the word "shmor" (observe) is used. The Talmud (Shevuot 20b) explains that "remember" and "observe" were said in a single utterance, a miracle that only G-d could perform.

" Remember corresponds to the 248 positive commandments, of which love is the root..."

"Observe" corresponds to the 365 prohibitions of the Torah, and the root of their observance is the fear of Heaven. "Remember" corresponds to the 248 positive commandments, of which love is the root, for it is only through their observance that a person can cleave to G-d. "Observe" precedes "remember" here, even though the sequence written in the Torah is the opposite; this is because fear of Heaven must precede cleaving to G-d. Furthermore, "observe" is particularly pertinent at night, and "remember" during the day.