Deuteronomy 5:23 kjv
And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
Deuteronomy 5:23 nkjv
"So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders.
Deuteronomy 5:23 niv
When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me.
Deuteronomy 5:23 esv
And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders.
Deuteronomy 5:23 nlt
"But when you heard the voice from the heart of the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders and elders came to me.
Deuteronomy 5 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 19:16-19 | On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast… Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. | Original Sinai event: Thunders, cloud, sound. |
| Exod 20:18-19 | Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, lest we die." | People's fear and request for a mediator. |
| Deut 4:10-12 | Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people… And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain… and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and thick gloom. Then the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire.’ | Earlier recount: God speaks from fire and darkness. |
| Deut 4:24 | For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. | God's nature: consuming fire. |
| Deut 5:5 | I stood 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 into the mountain. | Moses' role as mediator. |
| Deut 5:24-27 | "For what flesh is there who has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire... and has lived? Go near, and hear all that the LORD our God will say, and speak to us..." | People’s rationale for wanting a mediator. |
| Heb 12:18-21 | For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire and to darkness and gloom and a tempest and to the sound of a trumpet and to the voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken... so terrifying was the sight... | New Testament contrast: Sinai's terror. |
| Ps 18:8-12 | Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth… He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet… He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. | God's appearance: smoke, fire, darkness. |
| Ps 97:2-3 | Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his foes all around. | God's presence enveloped in darkness and fire. |
| Exod 33:20 | But he said, "You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." | Limits of human sight of God. |
| Isa 6:5 | Then I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" | Fear in divine presence. |
| Judg 6:22 | Then Gideon perceived that it was the angel of the LORD, and Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face." | Fear after divine encounter. |
| Joel 2:2-3 | A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!... A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame blazes. | Eschatological imagery: darkness, fire. |
| Zeph 1:15-16 | A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick gloom... | Day of the Lord: darkness, gloom. |
| 2 Pet 3:10 | But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. | Final judgment with fire. |
| Rev 15:8 | And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. | Glory of God bringing inaccessibility. |
| Exod 24:1 | Then he said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar." | Elders called to approach. |
| Exod 24:9-10 | Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. | Leaders with a limited sight of God. |
| Gal 3:19-20 | Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. | Mediator for the Law. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. | The ultimate mediator, Jesus. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things... | God's progressive revelation. |
| Heb 12:25 | See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. | Listen to God's speaking, now from Heaven. |
Deuteronomy 5 verses
Deuteronomy 5 23 Meaning
This verse vividly recalls the terrifying and awe-inspiring manifestation of God at Mount Horeb (Sinai), detailing how the people of Israel, having heard God's voice emanating from the midst of impenetrable darkness and witnessing the mountain ablaze with consuming fire, responded by collectively approaching Moses through their tribal heads and elders. It underscores the profound, unapproachable holiness of God and the people's recognition of their utter inability to directly withstand His awesome presence.
Deuteronomy 5 23 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 5 serves as Moses' powerful retelling and solemn reaffirmation of the Ten Commandments to the new generation of Israelites. This discourse occurs on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land, serving as a critical reminder of the covenant made at Horeb (Sinai). Verse 23 specifically describes the dramatic and terrifying climax of God's self-revelation at the mountain. The entire scene in Deuteronomy 5 recalls the events originally detailed in Exodus 19-20. Moses recounts the people's sensory experience—hearing God's voice from darkness and seeing the burning mountain—which led to their overwhelming fear and subsequent plea for Moses to act as their sole intermediary. This narrative powerfully underscores the immense holiness, power, and transcendent nature of God, demonstrating why a direct, unmediated encounter was impossible for sinful humanity and establishing the foundational authority of the Law that was given.
Deuteronomy 5 23 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (וַיְהִי, vayhi): A standard narrative transitional phrase, emphasizing the occurrence of a significant event in time, highlighting the consequential nature of the revelation that unfolded.
- when ye heard (בְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם, b'sham'akhem): Focuses on the people's direct auditory reception of God's word, not merely a mediated report. It emphasizes the active engagement of the listeners in the divine encounter.
- the voice (הַקּוֹל, haqqol): Refers to the audible, supernatural sound of God's articulated commandments. This was not a general noise but the distinct and terrifying pronouncements of the Most High. The singular
voicesuggests unity and authority. - out of the midst of the darkness (מִתּוֹךְ הַחֹשֶׁךְ, mitokh haḥoshek): The "darkness" (ḥoshek) is symbolic of God's incomprehensibility, mysteriousness, and ultimate transcendence. While God revealed Himself, His infinite essence remained veiled, instilling both awe and fear, confirming that His form cannot be perceived by man. This paradoxically highlights His immense power by obscuring His direct appearance.
- and saw (וּבִרְאֹתְכֶם, uvir'otkhem): Indicates direct visual perception by the people, showcasing the dual sensory experience of the Sinaitic revelation – both hearing and seeing.
- the mountain burn with fire (אֶת הָהָר בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ, et hahar bo'er ba'esh): The mountain (hāhār) consumed by fire (’ēš) serves as a physical manifestation of God's active, consuming presence. Fire symbolizes God's holiness, purifying power, divine judgment, and fierce glory, inspiring profound terror and reverence in the witnesses.
- that ye came near (וַתִּקְרְבוּן, vattikravun): This verb signifies an intentional approach, though one driven by fear and a need for intercession. This "drawing near" was to Moses, in stark contrast to God's strict command not to approach the mountain itself due to its sacredness.
- unto me (אֵלַי, elay): Explicitly designates Moses as the destination of their approach. He was the divinely appointed, trusted, and necessary intermediary for the fearful people.
- even all the heads of your tribes (כָּל־רָאשֵׁי שִׁבְטֵיכֶם, kol-rashey shivteykhem): These were the primary civic and spiritual leaders representing each of Israel's tribes. Their unified approach underscores the corporate and official nature of the people's plea for mediation, showing that this was not a disorganized panic but a collective, authorized action.
- and your elders (וְזִקְנֵיכֶם, v’zikneykhem): The elders were figures of wisdom, experience, and authority within the community. Their inclusion alongside tribal heads further signifies the comprehensive and official nature of the people's delegation, emphasizing that the entire representative body of Israel sought a mediator.
Word-groups analysis:
- "heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, and saw the mountain burn with fire": This descriptive phrase emphasizes the overwhelming and multi-sensory nature of the divine manifestation at Sinai. The auditory (voice from darkness) and visual (mountain aflame) elements together convey God's terrifying glory, highlighting both His hiddenness in light inaccessible and His active, potent presence. This combination underscored the vast chasm between human mortality and divine holiness, producing profound fear and reverence in the Israelites.
- "that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders": This phrase encapsulates the unified and delegated response of the Israelite nation to God's terrifying revelation. The people, through their authoritative leaders, collectively sought refuge in Moses as the designated mediator. This act signifies their deep respect for Moses' unique relationship with God, their acknowledgment of human limitation, and their desperate need for an intercessor in the face of an otherwise consuming divine presence. This formal appeal solidifies Moses' pivotal role in the covenant relationship.
Deuteronomy 5 23 Bonus section
- The recount in Deut 5:23 and the subsequent verses prefigure the profound truth found in the New Testament: that direct human access to God requires a perfect mediator. The terrifying nature of Sinai contrasts with the grace and accessibility found in Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate mediator (Heb 12:24; 1 Tim 2:5), offering a "better covenant" (Heb 8:6).
- The paradox of God speaking from darkness yet illuminating the mountain with fire underscores His mysterious nature—He is simultaneously hidden and revealed, utterly Other yet actively engaged with His creation. This challenges any anthropomorphic or fully comprehensible notions of God.
- The unanimous agreement of the "heads of your tribes and your elders" highlights the corporate conviction of Israel regarding God's fearsome holiness and the absolute necessity of respecting divine boundaries. This was a communal acknowledgment of human limitations, leading to a request that established a fundamental structure of divine-human interaction under the old covenant.
Deuteronomy 5 23 Commentary
Deuteronomy 5:23 powerfully recapitulates the climax of God's awe-inspiring revelation at Mount Sinai, providing foundational insight into both His divine nature and the necessity of human mediation. The description of God's voice emanating from "darkness" and the mountain ablaze with "fire" communicates His transcendent holiness and overwhelming power. The darkness signifies God's inscrutable essence, beyond human comprehension and perception, while the fire indicates His consuming purity, unapproachable glory, and fervent presence. Such an direct encounter with absolute holiness would consume mortal, sinful beings, instilling a fear that was not mere terror but an appropriate, holy awe of the Creator. This profound experience caused the entire leadership of Israel to realize their inherent inability to stand before God unmediated, leading them to appeal to Moses to serve as their indispensable intermediary. Their collective appeal validates Moses' unique prophetic and mediatorial role in the establishment of the Old Covenant, ensuring God's communication to Israel occurred in a way they could withstand, laying the groundwork for understanding the concept of a divinely appointed bridge between humanity and the Almighty. The event thus affirms God's commitment to relate to His people while upholding His terrifying purity.