Hebrews 12:21

Hebrews 12:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
• New International Version (NIV)The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

Context of Hebrews 12:21

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. 20They 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.’ Even 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. 23All God's people meet together there. They are like his most important sons. They belong in heaven because God has written down their names. You have come to God himself, who will judge all people. You have come to the place where the spirits of God's people are. Those people have become right with God. God has now finished his work in them.

Hebrews 12:21 word by word

καὶ οὕτω φοβερὸν ἦν τὸ φανταζόμενον, Μωϋσῆς εἶπεν· ἔκφοβός εἰμι καὶ ἔντρομος·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• terribleφοβερόςphoberos · fearfulG5398
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the sightφαντάζωphantazō · to make visibleG5324
• MosesΜωϋσῆς, ΜωσῆςMōseus Mōsēs Mōusēs · MosesG3475
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• exceedingly fearἔκφοβοςekphobos · terrifiedG1630
• quakeἔντρομοςentromos · tremblingG1790
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 12:21

• 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.
• Psalms 119:120I respect your great strength, so that my body shakes with fear. I am afraid of the laws by which you judge people.
• Isaiah 6:3The seraphs called out to one another. They said, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is full of his great glory.’
• Daniel 10:8So I was there alone to see this great vision. All my strength disappeared. My face became very white. I was very weak.
• Revelation 1:17When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead person. Then he put his right hand on me, and he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid! I am the one who is the first and also the last.

Commentaries on Hebrews 12:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said … - This is not recorded in the account of the giving of the Law in Exodus, and it has been made a question on what authority the apostle made this declaration respecting Moses. In Deuteronomy 9:19, Moses indeed says, of himself, after he had come down from the mountain, and had broken the two tables of stone that were in his hand, that he was greatly afraid of the anger of the Lord on account of the sin of…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. 2121. the sight--the vision of God's majesty. quake--Greek, "I am in trembling"; "fear" affected his mind: "trembling," his body. Moses is not recorded in Exodus to have used these words. But Paul, by inspiration, supplies (compare Ac 20:35; 2Ti 3:8) this detail. We read in De 9:19, Septuagint, of similar words used by Moses after breaking the two tables, through fear of God's anger at the people's sin in making the golden calves. He doubtless similarly…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 12:21

• Covenant
• Fear of God
• God
• Vision

In the dictionaries

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

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