Focused Passage

Exodus 20:18-21

The Ten Commandments and the Fear of the LORD

The LORD identifies Himself as Israel’s Redeemer, speaks the Ten Commandments, the people tremble and ask for mediation, Moses explains that the fear of God is meant to keep them from sinning, and the LORD gives initial altar instructions that guard worship from idolatry and human self-display.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

18When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance.

19“Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”

20“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”

21And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 5:22BSB references Hebrews 12:18BSB references Psalms 114:4Classic cross-references Exodus 19:16Classic cross-references Revelation 4:5Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 4:16Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:22-33OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 6:1-2OliveGrove study links Genesis 3:8-10OliveGrove study links

Original words

When allוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructthe peopleהָעָם֩H5971Article | Noun - masculine singularwitnessedרֹאִ֨יםH7200Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe thunderהַקּוֹלֹ֜תH6963Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand lightningהַלַּפִּידִ֗םH3940Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֵת֙H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe soundingק֣וֹלH6963Noun - masculine singular constructof the ram’s hornהַשֹּׁפָ֔רH7782Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand the mountainהָהָ֖רH2022Article | Noun - masculine singularenveloped in smokeעָשֵׁ֑ןH6226Adjective - masculine singular-הָעָם֙H5971Article | Noun - masculine singular-וַיַּ֤רְאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthey trembledוַיָּנֻ֔עוּH5128Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraland stoodוַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּH5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralat a distanceמֵֽרָחֹֽק׃H7350Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 18:16Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 3:9Classic cross-references Luke 5:8Classic cross-references Acts 7:38Classic cross-references Exodus 18:19Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:22-33OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 6:1-2OliveGrove study links Genesis 3:8-10OliveGrove study links

Original words

Speakדַּבֵּר־H1696Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singularto usעִמָּ֖נוּH5973Preposition | first person common pluralyourselfאַתָּ֥הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularand we will listenוְנִשְׁמָ֑עָהH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralthey saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularBut do notוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverblet Godאֱלֹהִ֖יםH430Noun - masculine pluralspeakיְדַבֵּ֥רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto usעִמָּ֛נוּH5973Preposition | first person common pluralorפֶּן־H6435Conjunctionwe will dieנָמֽוּת׃H4191Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 13:3Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 6:2Classic cross-references Proverbs 3:7Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 12:20Classic cross-references Genesis 22:12Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:22-33OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 6:1-2OliveGrove study links Genesis 3:8-10OliveGrove study links

Original words

Do notאַל־H408Adverbbe afraidתִּירָאוּ֒H3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralMosesמֹשֶׁ֣הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularrepliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶל־H413Preposition-הָעָם֮H5971Article | Noun - masculine singularForכִּ֗יH3588ConjunctionGodהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםH430Article | Noun - masculine pluralhas comeבָּ֖אH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singulartoלְבַֽעֲבוּר֙H5668Preposition-l, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singulartest youנַסּ֣וֹתH5254Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct-אֶתְכֶ֔םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralso thatוּבַעֲב֗וּרH5668Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular. . .תִּהְיֶ֧הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularthe fear of Himיִרְאָת֛וֹH3374Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularmay be beforeעַל־H5921Prepositionyouפְּנֵיכֶ֖םH6440Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralto keepלְבִלְתִּ֥יH1115Preposition-lyou from sinningתֶחֱטָֽאוּ׃H2398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural

Verse 21

Cross-references

1 Kings 8:12Classic cross-references Psalms 97:2Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 6:1Classic cross-references Psalms 139:12Classic cross-references Psalms 18:9Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:22-33OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 6:1-2OliveGrove study links Genesis 3:8-10OliveGrove study links

Original words

And the peopleהָעָ֖םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularstoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֥דH5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularat a distanceמֵרָחֹ֑קH7350Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singularas Mosesוּמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularapproachedנִגַּ֣שׁH5066Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionthe thick darknessהָֽעֲרָפֶ֔לH6205Article | Noun - masculine singularwhereאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relative. . .שָׁ֖םH8033AdverbGod wasהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃פH430Article | Noun - masculine plural

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