Hebrews 12:20

Hebrews 12:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
• New International Version (NIV)because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."
• New King James Version (NKJV)(For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.”

Context of Hebrews 12:20

18You have come near to God. But you have not come to a place that you can touch, like Sinai mountain. That mountain burned with fire. But where the people stood, it was completely dark. They could not see at all. There was also a very strong wind and a storm. 19There was the loud sound of a trumpet. There was a powerful voice that spoke to them. When the people heard that voice, they were very afraid. So they asked that the voice would not speak to them any more. They were very afraid of what God had told them. God had said, ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, you must kill it with stones.’ 21Even Moses was very afraid when he saw God's great power. He said, ‘I am full of fear!’ 22But as believers in Christ, you have not come to God in that way. You have come to Mount Zion. You have come to the city of the true God who lives. You have come to the city of Jerusalem that is in heaven. There are many thousands of happy angels all together in that place.

Hebrews 12:20 word by word

οὐκ ἔφερον γὰρ τὸ διαστελλόμενον· κἂν θηρίον θίγῃ τοῦ ὄρους, λιθοβοληθήσεταιRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• they couldφέρωpherō̄ · to bear/leadG5342
• notοὐou · noG3756
• that which was commandedδιαστέλλωdiastellomai · to give ordersG1291
• And if so much asκἄνkan · and/even ifG2579
• a beastθηρίονthērion · wild animalG2342
• touchθιγγάνωthigganō · to touchG2345
• the mountainὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the mountainὄροςoros · mountainG3735
• it shall be stonedλιθοβολέωlithoboleō · to stoneG3036
• orἤē · orG2228
• thrust throughκατατοξεύωkatatoxeuō · to shoot downG2700
• with a dartβολίςbolis · arrowG1002

Cross-references for Hebrews 12:20

• Deuteronomy 33:2He said this: ‘The Lord came from Sinai. He appeared to his people like the sun that rises over the hills of Edom. He shone on his people from Mount Paran. Thousands of angels came with him. In his right hand, he held his Law that burned with fire.
• Romans 3:19So, we know that God's Law belongs to the Jews. God told them to obey everything that his Law teaches. As a result, nobody can say: ‘God should not punish me.’ Everybody in the world must stand in front of God and he will judge them.
• Galatians 2:19But God's Law showed me that I could never obey all its rules. So I became like a dead person, free from the authority of those rules. That means that I can now live to please God.
• Galatians 3:10But some people try to obey all the rules of God's Law. They think that they will become right with God if they do this very well. But God will speak against people like that and he will punish them. It is written in the Bible: ‘God will punish everyone who does not always obey all the rules in his Law completely.’
• Exodus 19:13Nobody must go near them. You must throw stones at them to kill them. Or you must shoot arrows at them. You must not let them live, whether they are people or animals.” The people must wait until they hear the sound of a trumpet. When they hear a long noise, then they may go up on the mountain.’

Commentaries on Hebrews 12:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For they could not endure that which was commanded - They could not sustain the awe produced by the fact that God uttered his commands himself. The meaning is not that the commands themselves were intolerable, but that the manner in which they were communicated inspired a terror which they could not bear. They feared that they should die; Exodus 20:19. And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned - Exodus 19:13. The prohibition was…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-29Verses 18-29 Mount Sinai, on which the Jewish church state was formed, was a mount such as might be touched, though forbidden to be so, a place that could be felt; so the Mosaic dispensation was much in outward and earthly things. The gospel state is kind and condescending, suited to our weak frame. Under the gospel all may come with boldness to God's presence. But the most holy must despair, if judged by the holy law given from Sinai, without a Saviour…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-24This passage compares the old covenant with the new one. The old covenant is represented by Mount Sinai (12:18–21). It was impersonal, frightening, and unapproachable. The mountain shook with loud sounds, flashes of light, and fearful power. The new covenant is represented by Mount Zion (12:22–24). It is personal, welcoming, and joyful.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. that which was commanded--"the interdict" [Tittmann]. A stern interdictory mandate is meant. And--rather, "Even if a beast (much more a man) touch," &c. or thrust through with a dart--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. The full interdict in Ex 19:12, 13 is abbreviated here; the beast alone, being put for "whether man or beast"; the stoning, which applies to the human offender, alone being specified, the beast's punishment, namely, the being thrust…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 12:20

• Covenant
• Fear of God
• God
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Acceptably
• Aside
• Birthright
• Bitterness
• Carefully
• Chastening
• Cloud
• Contradiction
• Endure
• Finisher

Commentaries on Hebrews 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings