EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Exodus 20:21
21So the people stayed away from the mountain. But Moses walked towards the thick, dark cloud, where God was.
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
19They said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself. We will listen to you. But do not let God speak to us. If he does, we will die.’ 20Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you. He wants you to respect him and to obey him. Then you will not do things that are wrong.’ So the people stayed away from the mountain. But Moses walked towards the thick, dark cloud, where God was. 22Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell this to the Israelites: “You yourselves have heard me speak to you from heaven. 23Do not make any idols to take my place. Do not use silver or gold to make an idol that you will worship.
Read all of Exodus 20Exodus 20:21 word by word
וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הָעָ֖ם מֵרָחֹ֑ק וּמֹשֶׁה֙ נִגַּ֣שׁ אֶל־הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Exodus 20:21
- Exodus 19:16On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was there over the mountain. The people heard the noise of a loud trumpet. They were so afraid that their bodies were shaking.
- Deuteronomy 5:5(At that time, I stood between the Lord and you. I repeated the Lord's message to you. You were afraid of the fire, so you did not go up the mountain.) God said this:
- 1 Kings 8:12Then Solomon prayed, ‘Lord, you have said that you live in a dark cloud.
- 2 Chronicles 6:1Then Solomon prayed, ‘Lord, you have said that you live in a dark cloud.
- Psalms 18:9God caused the sky to bend as he came down. Dark clouds were under his feet.
- Psalms 97:2Dark clouds are all round the Lord. He rules with justice, and he is fair to everyone.
- Psalms 104:2Light is all round you, like the clothes that you wear. You have put the skies as a roof over the earth.
- 1 Timothy 6:16God alone lives for ever. He lives in very bright light that nobody can come near. Nobody has ever seen God. Nobody is able to see him. So we praise him! He will rule for ever with great authority! Amen! This is true.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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