Deuteronomy 5 22

Deuteronomy 5:22 kjv

These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

Deuteronomy 5:22 nkjv

"These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

Deuteronomy 5:22 niv

These 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.

Deuteronomy 5:22 esv

"These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

Deuteronomy 5:22 nlt

"The LORD spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

Deuteronomy 5 verses

Deuteronomy 5 22 Meaning

Deuteronomy 5:22 states that the Ten Commandments, which God had just audibly spoken directly to the entire Israelite assembly at Mount Horeb amidst a terrifying display of fire, cloud, and thick darkness, were a complete and final direct divine utterance. Yahweh Himself inscribed these specific commands onto two stone tablets, which He then entrusted to Moses. This verse underscores the supreme authority, divine authorship, and unique significance of the Decalogue as the foundational core of the covenant between God and Israel.

Deuteronomy 5 22 Context

Deuteronomy 5 functions as Moses's restatement and renewed exposition of the Ten Commandments to the generation of Israelites preparing to enter the Promised Land, some forty years after the original giving of the Law at Mount Horeb (Sinai). Moses emphasizes that the covenant made at Horeb was not just with their fathers but also with them (Deut 5:3). This re-declaration served to remind them of the foundational principles of their relationship with Yahweh and their responsibilities as His covenant people, preparing them spiritually for life in the land. Verse 22 acts as the powerful concluding summary of the divine revelation of the Decalogue itself, affirming its unique authority and origin directly from God, before Moses proceeds to reiterate the people's terrified response and God's subsequent instructions through him. The historical context positions Israel at the threshold of a new era, needing to recall and reaffirm their unique identity forged at Horeb as a nation directly accountable to the Law of the sovereign Lord.

Deuteronomy 5 22 Word analysis

• "These words" (דְּבָרִים, devarim): Refers specifically and exclusively to the Ten Commandments listed in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (and Ex 20:1-17). These are not general commandments, but the core moral and ethical demands. The term signifies a concrete divine utterance.
• "the Lord" (יהוה, Yahweh): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and unchanging character, emphasizing that the Law proceeds from the very nature of the sovereign, covenant-making God of Israel.
• "spoke" (דִּבֶּר, dibber): Implies direct, audible, verbal communication. This was not a silent revelation or a mere inner impression but a powerful, distinct voice heard by the entire nation, emphasizing the directness and clarity of God's initial delivery of the Decalogue.
• "to all your assembly" (אֶל-כָּל-קְהַלְכֶם, el kol qehalchem): Signifies that the Decalogue was addressed corporately and directly to every Israelite present, establishing a communal covenant. This contrasts with prophetic messages typically given to one person for a wider audience, highlighting the uniqueness of Sinai.
• "at the mountain" (בָּהָר, ba-har): Specifically Mount Horeb (Sinai), the designated location for this foundational covenant encounter. The mountain became the sacred epicentre of divine-human interaction, symbolizing God's dwelling and transcendence.
• "out of the midst of the fire" (מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ, mittoch ha-esh): Fire frequently symbolizes God's holiness, purifying presence, and consuming power (Deut 4:24, Heb 12:29). It points to God's majestic and awe-inspiring nature, also suggesting a separation from defilement.
• "the cloud" (וְהֶעָנָן, ve-ha'anan): A common symbol of God's immediate, often veiled, presence, providing guidance (Ex 13:21) and sometimes indicating judgment. It conveys both His majesty and His hiddenness.
• "and the thick darkness" (וְהָעֲרָפֶל, ve-ha'araphel): Represents the terrifying and incomprehensible aspects of God's being. It emphasizes His unapproachable glory and mystery, underscoring human finitude and God's transcendence over all earthly phenomena and even light itself.
• "with a loud voice" (קוֹל גָּדוֹל, qol gadol): Stresses the undeniable and overwhelming nature of the audible divine speech. It ensures that the commands were heard clearly by everyone, underscoring their importance and absolute authority.
• "and He added no more" (וְלֹא יָסַף עוֹד, velo yasaph od): A critical phrase indicating the unique and complete nature of these specific Ten Commandments in their oral delivery directly to the whole assembly. It suggests that while other laws would follow, they would come through Moses, setting the Decalogue apart as a direct, finished, communal word from God.
• "And He wrote them" (וַיִּכְתְּבֵם, vayyikhteveim): Signifies divine authorship and implies the permanence, clarity, and unalterable nature of the Decalogue. God Himself penned these laws, contrasting them with human legislation and reinforcing their absolute authority.
• "on two tablets of stone" (עַל-שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים, al shnei luchot avanim): Stone signifies durability, permanence, and the unyielding nature of divine law, distinct from perishable scrolls. Two tablets may suggest one for God's rights and one for human rights, or duplicates for storage (paralleling Ancient Near Eastern treaty practices, where one copy remained with the suzerain and one with the vassal).
• "and gave them to me" (וַיִּתְּנֵם אֵלָי, vayyitnem elai): Refers to Moses, emphasizing his unique role as the covenant mediator between God and Israel. He received the Law not as its author, but as God's chosen messenger, responsible for delivering and teaching it to the people.

Words-group Analysis:

• "These words the Lord spoke...with a loud voice; and He added no more": This segment highlights the direct, explicit, audible, and complete nature of God's self-revelation concerning the Ten Commandments. The "no more" emphasizes the unique status and sufficiency of this particular set of commands as coming straight from God's own mouth to the entire nation. It marks a foundational, non-negotiable set of principles for all time.
• "out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness": This composite imagery (theophany) communicates God's overwhelming majesty, power, holiness, and awe-inspiring transcendence. It underscores the terrifying, yet glorious, reality of encountering the Holy God, designed to instil both reverence and obedience in Israel. It distinguishes Yahweh from idols or less powerful deities.
• "He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me": This phrase affirms the permanence, divine authority, and the authoritative means of transmission of the Decalogue. God's own writing signifies their absolute truth and enduring relevance, while Moses's reception confirms his divinely appointed mediatorial role in delivering God's law to His people.

Deuteronomy 5 22 Bonus section

• The direct audible speaking by God to an entire nation, as recorded in this verse, is unique in redemptive history, distinguishing the giving of the Decalogue from almost all other forms of divine revelation, which typically came through prophets or dreams. This emphasized the universality of these ten principles for all within the covenant.
• The phrase "thick darkness" (עֲרָפֶל, araphel) does not imply absence of God, but rather a protective cloud that screens the unbearable glory of God, much like a potent king might reside behind curtains, making His presence known but not fully seen. It reinforces God's unapproachability in His full holiness.
• The writing by the "finger of God" (Ex 31:18) distinguishes the Decalogue from any human-penned law code, even those of divine inspiration. This stresses not only God's authorship but also His perfect precision and intent behind each command, allowing for no human alteration.
• The tablets being given to Moses means the entire Law, and by extension God's covenant with Israel, was embodied in the person and mediation of Moses for that era.

Deuteronomy 5 22 Commentary

Deuteronomy 5:22 is a profound summary of the Decalogue's origin and significance. It reveals that the Ten Commandments are not human constructs but divine decrees, personally uttered by God with overwhelming power and terror-inducing glory, making their authority indisputable. The inclusion of "He added no more" in terms of direct vocal revelation highlights the distinct, complete, and foundational nature of these ten specific commands, setting them apart from the myriad of other laws later communicated through Moses. The subsequent divine inscription on stone further ensures their permanence and reinforces their unique status as the very finger of God touching human affairs. By entrusting them to Moses, God also established the necessary channel for teaching and mediating His perfect will to a sinful people. This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the weight, scope, and eternal relevance of the moral principles enshrined in the Decalogue, calling believers to hold these specific commands with supreme reverence as the very words of the Living God. Practically, it means these basic ethical standards are immutable and fundamental to pleasing God and living righteously, applicable to all generations.