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

18 When 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.”

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

Original words

When all וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָם֩ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular witnessed רֹאִ֨ים H7200 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the thunder הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת H6963 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and lightning הַלַּפִּידִ֗ם H3940 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the sounding ק֣וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct of the ram’s horn הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר H7782 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the mountain הָהָ֖ר H2022 Article | Noun - masculine singular enveloped in smoke עָשֵׁ֑ן H6226 Adjective - masculine singular - הָעָם֙ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וַיַּ֤רְא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular they trembled וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ H5128 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural and stood וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural at a distance מֵֽרָחֹֽק׃ H7350 Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

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

Original words

Speak דַּבֵּר־ H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular to us עִמָּ֖נוּ H5973 Preposition | first person common plural yourself אַתָּ֥ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular and we will listen וְנִשְׁמָ֑עָה H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural they said וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular But do not וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb let God אֱלֹהִ֖ים H430 Noun - masculine plural speak יְדַבֵּ֥ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular to us עִמָּ֛נוּ H5973 Preposition | first person common plural or פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction we will die נָמֽוּת׃ H4191 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

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

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be afraid תִּירָאוּ֒ H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Moses מֹשֶׁ֣ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶל־ H413 Preposition - הָעָם֮ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular For כִּ֗י H3588 Conjunction God הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural has come בָּ֖א H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to לְבַֽעֲבוּר֙ H5668 Preposition-l, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular test you נַסּ֣וֹת H5254 Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶתְכֶ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural so that וּבַעֲב֗וּר H5668 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular . . . תִּהְיֶ֧ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular the fear of Him יִרְאָת֛וֹ H3374 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular may be before עַל־ H5921 Preposition you פְּנֵיכֶ֖ם H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural to keep לְבִלְתִּ֥י H1115 Preposition-l you from sinning תֶחֱטָֽאוּ׃ H2398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

And the people הָעָ֖ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular stood וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular at a distance מֵרָחֹ֑ק H7350 Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular as Moses וּמֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular approached נִגַּ֣שׁ H5066 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the thick darkness הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל H6205 Article | Noun - masculine singular where אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative . . . שָׁ֖ם H8033 Adverb God was הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃פ H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural

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