Hebrews 12:18

Hebrews 12:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
• English Standard Version (ESV)For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest
• New King James Version (NKJV)For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,
• New Living Translation (NLT)You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.

Context of Hebrews 12:18

16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”

Hebrews 12:18 word by word

Οὐ γὰρ προσεληλύθατε ψηλαφωμένῳ καὶ κεκαυμένῳ πυρὶ καὶ γνόφῳ καὶ ζόφῳ καὶ θυέλλῃRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ye areπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the mountὄροςoros · mountainG3735
• that might be touchedψηλαφάωpsēlaphaō · to touchG5584
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• that burnedκαίωkaiō · to kindle/burnG2545
• with fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
• unto blacknessγνόφοςgnophos · darknessG1105
• darknessσκότοςskotos · darknessG4655
• tempestθύελλαthuella · stormG2366

Cross-references for Hebrews 12:18

• Exodus 19:12Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.
• Exodus 20:18When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance
• Exodus 24:17To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.
• Deuteronomy 4:11You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.
• Deuteronomy 5:22These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
• Romans 6:14For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
• Romans 8:15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
• 2 Timothy 1:7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Commentaries on Hebrews 12:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched - I believe the words ͅ should be translated to a palpable or material mountain; for that it was not a mountain that on this occasion might be touched, the history, Exodus 19:12, Exodus 19:13, shows; and the apostle himself, in Hebrews 12:20, confirms. It is called here a palpable or material mount, to distinguish it from that spiritual mount Sion, of which the apostle is speaking. Some contend that…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18For ye are not come - To enforce the considerations already urged, the apostle introduces this sublime comparison between the old and new dispensations; Hebrews 12:18-24. The object, in accordance with the principal scope of the Epistle, is, to guard them against apostasy. To do this, he shows that under the new dispensation there was much more to hind them to fidelity, and to make apostasy dangerous, than there was under the old. The main point of the…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. 18The descriptions of Mount Sinai are based on God's meeting with Israel there (see Exodus 19:16–22; 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 4:11–12; 5:23–27). These images show separation from a holy God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. For--The fact that we are not under the law, but under a higher, and that the last dispensation, the Gospel, with its glorious privileges, is the reason why especially the Hebrew Christians should "look diligently," &c. (He 12:15, 16). are not come--Greek, "have not come near to." Alluding to De 4:11, "Ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire ... with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness." "In your coming near unto…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 12:18

• Covenant
• Darkness
• Fear of God
• God
• Law
• Symbols and Similitudes
• Thunder
• 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