Exodus 20:21

Exodus 20:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
• New International Version (NIV)The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

Context of Exodus 20:21

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.” And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. 22Then the LORD said to Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23You are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.

Exodus 20:21 word by word

וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הָעָ֖ם מֵרָחֹ֑ק וּמֹשֶׁה֙ נִגַּ֣שׁ אֶל־הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ פRead the interlinear

• And the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• at a distanceרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
• as Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• approachedנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• approachedאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• the thick darknessעֲרָפֶל‛ărâphel · cloudH6205
• whereאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• whereשָׁםshâm · thereH8033
• God wasאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Exodus 20:21

• Exodus 19:16On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
• Deuteronomy 5:5At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said:
• 1 Kings 8:12Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
• 2 Chronicles 6:1Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
• Psalms 18:9He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.
• Psalms 97:2Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.
• Psalms 104:2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,
• 1 Timothy 6:16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Commentaries on Exodus 20:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 Compare Deuteronomy 5:22-31. Aaron Exodus 19:24 on this occasion accompanied Moses in drawing near to the thick darkness. Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33 is a series of laws which we may identify with what was written by Moses in the book called the book of the covenant, and read by him in the audience of the people Exodus 24:7. The document cannot be regarded as a strictly systematic whole. Portions of it were probably traditional rules handed…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 This law, which is so extensive that we cannot measure it, so spiritual that we cannot evade it, and so reasonable that we cannot find fault with it, will be the rule of the future judgment of God, as it is for the present conduct of man. If tried by this rule, we shall find our lives have been passed in transgressions. And with this holy law and an awful judgment before us, who can despise the gospel of Christ? And the knowledge of the law…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-21The people were very conscious of their sinfulness before a holy God and begged Moses to stand between them and God. Moses pointed out that God’s goal was neither to overawe them nor to destroy them. Rather, he wanted their awe of him to keep them from sinning (Exodus 20:20). Jesus is the ultimate mediator between God and people (1 Timothy 2:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2118-21. all the people saw the thunderings and the lightnings--They were eye and ear witnesses of the awful emblems of the Deity's descent. But they perceived not the Deity Himself.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 20:21

• Darkness
• God
• God Continued...
• Symbols and Similitudes

In the dictionaries

• God
• Moses
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Commit
• Covet
• Darkness
• Grave
• Guiltless
• Hold
• Likeness

Commentaries on Exodus 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings