Deuteronomy 5:24 kjv
And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath showed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.
Deuteronomy 5:24 nkjv
And you said: 'Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.
Deuteronomy 5:24 niv
And you said, "The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.
Deuteronomy 5:24 esv
And you said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.
Deuteronomy 5:24 nlt
They said, 'Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live!
Deuteronomy 5 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 19:16 | On the third day... there were thunders and lightnings... a thick cloud... and a very loud trumpet blast. | Manifestation of God's awesome presence |
| Exod 20:1 | And God spoke all these words... | God speaking directly |
| Exod 24:16-17 | The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai... the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire. | God's glory described as fire |
| Exod 33:20 | You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live. | General principle of human inability to see God's full presence and survive |
| Deut 4:12 | The LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire... you heard the sound of words, but saw no form. | Emphasizes the audible, not visual, nature of the direct revelation |
| Deut 4:33 | Has any people ever heard the voice of a god speaking out of fire, as you have heard, and still lived? | Highlights the unparalleled nature of Sinai event and Israel's survival |
| Deut 5:5 | I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD. | Moses' role as intermediary requested due to people's fear |
| Judg 6:22-23 | When Gideon perceived that He was the angel of the LORD... "Alas... I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" But the LORD said... "Do not fear; you shall not die." | Fear of death upon seeing divine presence, followed by survival |
| 1 Ki 19:11-12 | ...a great and strong wind... an earthquake... fire... after the fire the sound of a low whisper. | God's presence, not always in overwhelming display of power |
| Isa 6:1-5 | ...I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne... the seraphim... "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips... For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" | Human reaction (fear, unworthiness) to encountering God's manifest glory |
| Ezek 1:28 | Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud... such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. | Visual manifestations of God's glory |
| Psa 19:1 | The heavens declare the glory of God... | God's glory revealed in creation |
| Jer 23:29 | Is not my word like fire? declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? | God's word having the power of fire |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | Incarnation of Christ as the dwelling of God's glory among humanity |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets... but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son. | God's progressive revelation culminating in Christ, who perfectly speaks God's word |
| Heb 1:3 | He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature... | Christ as the very expression and visible manifestation of God's glory |
| Heb 2:1-4 | ...the word spoken through angels proved to be reliable... how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord... | Emphasizes the grave authority and consequences of divine revelation |
| Heb 12:18-21 | For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire... so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." | Recalls Sinai's terrifying nature, contrasting it with Mount Zion's grace |
| Heb 12:25 | See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking... If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth... | Grave consequences of refusing God's word, reminiscent of Sinai warnings |
| Rev 1:12-16 | ...and His voice was like the sound of many waters. His face was like the sun shining in full strength. | Manifestation of divine glory and power in heavenly vision |
Deuteronomy 5 verses
Deuteronomy 5 24 Meaning
The verse articulates the Israelites' profound realization and awe during the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Horeb. They witness the palpable presence of Yahweh—His magnificent "glory" and "greatness," expressed through fire—and hear His voice directly, speaking commandments. The astonishment lies in their survival; despite this direct and overwhelming encounter with the Holy God, they remain alive, an unprecedented experience for humanity.
Deuteronomy 5 24 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 5 presents Moses' powerful retelling of the covenant event at Mount Horeb (Sinai), reiterating the Ten Commandments to a new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab before entering the Promised Land. This chapter emphasizes the unique and direct encounter the Israelites had with Yahweh. Verse 24 falls within the people's awestruck and terrified response after hearing God's voice directly speaking the first ten commandments (Deut 5:23). They are overwhelmed by God's manifest presence (fire, darkness, thick cloud) and the direct sound of His voice, fearing for their lives, as direct encounters with divine beings were generally perceived as deadly. This fear leads them to request Moses to serve as their intermediary (Deut 5:25-27), thereby setting the stage for Moses' role as a prophet who speaks God's word to the people.
Deuteronomy 5 24 Word analysis
- And you said: This denotes a unified, communal declaration by the entire assembly of Israelites, emphasizing their collective experience.
- ‘Behold (הִנֵּה, hinnēh)': An interjection used to draw immediate attention to something remarkable, surprising, or highly significant. Here, it conveys an intense sense of wonder and revelation.
- the LORD our God (יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, YHWH Eloheinu)': "YHWH" (the Tetragrammaton, translated "LORD") is God's personal covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature. "Eloheinu" means "our God," establishing the unique and intimate covenantal relationship between Yahweh and Israel.
- has shown us His glory (כְּבוֹדוֹ, kĕvōdō)': "Glory" denotes God's manifest presence, His intrinsic weighty majesty, and radiating splendor. At Sinai, this glory was vividly displayed through cloud, thunder, lightning, and especially consuming fire.
- and His greatness (גָּדְלוֹ, gādelō)': This term refers to God's overwhelming power, supreme authority, and boundless majesty. It encapsulates His transcendent and incomprehensible vastness that inspired profound awe and humility.
- and we have heard His voice (שָׁמַעְנוּ קֹלוֹ, shāmaʿnū qōlō)': This highlights the direct, audible, and unprecedented nature of God's verbal communication with an entire nation. It was a tangible, sensory encounter, unlike anything before.
- from the midst of the fire (מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ, mittokh hāʾēsh)': Fire consistently symbolizes God's holy, purifying, and sometimes judging presence throughout Scripture (e.g., the burning bush). Its presence intensifies the awe and dread, signifying unapproachable holiness and overwhelming power.
- We have seen this day that God speaks with man and he still lives': This is the central, astonishing declaration. The prevalent belief in ancient cultures, and even elsewhere in Scripture (Exod 33:20), was that direct interaction or sight of a divine being would lead to immediate death. The Israelites' survival after directly hearing the Holy God speak was an unprecedented miracle of divine grace and power, defying typical expectations of divine encounters. It powerfully distinguishes Yahweh from the volatile and often deadly deities of surrounding pagan beliefs, affirming His life-giving sovereignty even in His most terrifying manifestations.
- ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire.': This initial clause comprehensively describes the awe-inspiring, multi-sensory manifestation of God at Sinai. It combines the visual display of His glory and greatness (implied through fire and associated phenomena) with the distinct, audible encounter of His voice emerging directly from that overwhelming presence.
- ‘We have seen this day that God speaks with man and he still lives.': This second clause is the people's astonished conclusion and primary take-away from the experience. It emphasizes the utterly unique and merciful aspect of the Sinai revelation: the God of consuming fire spoke directly to an entire multitude, and they were miraculously sustained, rather than consumed by His holiness. This specific phrase encapsulates the profound impact and enduring theological significance of the event.
Deuteronomy 5 24 Bonus section
The profound experience described in Deuteronomy 5:24 was a crucial turning point, leading the Israelites to recognize their need for an intermediary between themselves and a holy God. Their fear of direct communication (Deut 5:25-27) led God to affirm Moses as their prophet, saying, "They have rightly said all that they have spoken" (Deut 5:28). This divinely sanctioned fear initiated the prophetic office in Israel, culminating in the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ (Deut 18:15-19). This foundational event contrasts sharply with surrounding polytheistic cultures where deities were often capricious and dangerous, making direct interaction deadly and revelation ambiguous. The living God of Israel desires to speak to His people and enables them to live in His awesome presence.
Deuteronomy 5 24 Commentary
Deuteronomy 5:24 encapsulates the pivotal moment of divine revelation at Sinai, seen from the perspective of the people who experienced it. Their declaration signifies an overwhelming realization of God's incomparable power, majesty, and holiness. The manifestation of God in fire and sound, rather than consuming them as might be expected by human reckoning or pagan precedents, affirmed His life-sustaining presence even amidst His profound glory. This was an act of profound grace, allowing humanity to hear God's direct words and survive, fostering an intimate, yet fearful, knowledge of their God. This unprecedented event laid the foundation for Israel's unique relationship with Yahweh, marking them as a people singularly privileged to know God directly through His revealed Word and His active presence, distinguishing Him sharply from all other perceived deities. The experience was a direct, undeniable proof of God's reality, power, and desire to commune with His chosen people on earth.