Ten Words or All of God's Words?

Our English translations of the Old Testament sometimes obscure the original Hebrew meaning of the text. For instance, the Hebrew word usually translated into English as "commandment" is "misva." However, on three occasions, the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) is referred to as "dabar" or "words." They are:

And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (Exodus 34:28)

And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. (Deuteronomy 4:13)

And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me. (Deuteronomy 10:4)

Likewise, in the twentieth chapter of Exodus, we read: "And God spake all these words (dabar), saying..." and the ten commandments follow. (Exodus 20:1)

In the same manner, when the Decalogue is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy, we read: "These words (dabar) the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. (Deuteronomy 5:22)

Nevertheless, after listing a number of other commandments (including some related to sacrifices), we also read there: "Observe and hear all these words (dabar) which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God." (Deuteronomy 12:28) And, "What thing (dabar) soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." (Deuteronomy 12:32)

Indeed, this sense of ALL of the words of the Law (Torah) is repeated over and over again in the book of Deuteronomy. Here are just a few examples of this phenomenon:

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words (dabar) of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD... (Deuteronomy 28:58)

Keep therefore the words (dabar) of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. (Deuteronomy 29:9)

And Moses went and spake these words (dabar) unto all Israel. (Deuteronomy 31:1)

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words (dabar) of this law: (Deuteronomy 31:12)

And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words (dabar) which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words (dabar) of this law. (Deuteronomy 32:46)

Hence, we can see that the Hebrew Scriptures make very clear that the Israelites were expected to obey ALL of the words of the Law, NOT just the Ten!