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

19Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak to us, or we will die!” 20However, Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you will not sin.” So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. 22Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.

Exodus 20:21 word by word

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

• So the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• at a distanceרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
• while Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• approachedנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• the thickעֲרָפֶל‛ărâphel · cloudH6205
• whereאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• whereשָׁםshâm · thereH8033
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Exodus 20:21

• Exodus 19:16So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
• Deuteronomy 5:5while I was standing between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up on the mountain. He said,
• 1 Kings 8:12Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.
• 2 Chronicles 6:1Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.
• Psalms 18:9He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down With thick darkness under His feet.
• Psalms 97:2Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
• Psalms 104:2Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
• 1 Timothy 6:16who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 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