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,
• New International Version (NIV)You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;
• 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,

Context of Hebrews 12:18

16Also see to it that there is no immoral or godless person—like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. 17For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He found no chance for repentance, though he begged for it with tears. For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and storm, 19and to the blast of a shofar and a voice whose words made those who heard it beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”

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 19:12You are to set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Be very careful not to go up onto the mountain, or touch the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death.
• Exodus 20:18All the people witnessed the thundering and the lightning, and the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled and stood far off.
• Exodus 24:17The appearance of the glory of Adonai was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of Bnei-Yisrael.
• Deuteronomy 4:11“You came near and stood at the bottom of the mountain while the mountain was blazing with fire up to the heart of the heavens—darkness, cloud, and fog.
• Deuteronomy 5:22Now then, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us! If we hear the voice of Adonai our God any more, then we will die.
• Romans 6:14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
• Romans 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall again into fear; rather, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
• 2 Timothy 1:7For God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and 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