Deuteronomy 5:25 kjv
Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.
Deuteronomy 5:25 nkjv
Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die.
Deuteronomy 5:25 niv
But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer.
Deuteronomy 5:25 esv
Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we shall die.
Deuteronomy 5:25 nlt
But now, why should we risk death again? If the LORD our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire.
Deuteronomy 5 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deu 5:24 | And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us His glory and His greatness... 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. | Immediate preceding verse; Israel's acknowledgment of God's awesome revelation, yet tempered with terror. |
| Exod 20:19 | And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. | Israel's exact plea for a mediator, concurrent with the event at Sinai. |
| Heb 12:18-21 | For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire... so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake: | Contrasts Sinai's terror with Mount Zion (New Covenant); confirms the Israelites' extreme fear. |
| Deu 4:24 | For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. | God's nature as consuming fire. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | New Testament reaffirmation of God's nature. |
| Exod 33:20 | And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. | Inability of humans to survive a direct, full encounter with God's presence. |
| Judg 13:22 | And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. | Another instance of fearing death from seeing God. |
| Isa 6:5 | Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips... for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. | Isaiah's terror in the presence of God's holiness. |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: | God's unapproachable light and being. |
| Ps 97:3 | A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. | Fire as an instrument of divine judgment and power. |
| Nah 1:6 | Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire... | Rhetorical questions emphasizing humanity's inability to withstand God's wrath. |
| Jer 23:29 | Is not My word like fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? | God's word's power and consuming nature. |
| Deu 18:15 | The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; | God's promise of a mediator (prophet like Moses), in response to their plea. |
| Jn 1:18 | No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. | Jesus Christ as the ultimate mediator revealing God. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; | Christ's role as the unique Mediator. |
| Heb 9:15 | And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament... | Christ's mediation establishing the New Covenant. |
| Rom 7:10 | And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. | The Law, holy and good, bringing awareness of sin, leading to a sense of condemnation and death for the sinful. |
| 2 Cor 3:6-7 | Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. | The Old Covenant (letter) brings death, contrasted with the life of the New Covenant (Spirit). |
| Gen 3:10 | And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid... | Adam's fear upon hearing God's voice after sinning, foreshadowing separation and dread. |
| Ps 29:3-9 | The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth... The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. | Descriptions of God's terrifyingly powerful voice. |
| Rev 1:17 | And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead... | John's response to seeing the glorified Christ. |
Deuteronomy 5 verses
Deuteronomy 5 25 Meaning
Deuteronomy 5:25 expresses the Israelites' overwhelming terror at the direct manifestation of God's glorious and consuming presence at Mount Horeb. Having just heard the Ten Commandments spoken by God Himself amidst fire and thunder, they believed that any further direct communication from the Lord would inevitably lead to their death, as their finite and sinful nature could not endure the raw power and holiness of God's unmediated voice and fiery presence. It reflects their profound dread and their realization of humanity's inability to stand before an infinitely holy God without perishing.
Deuteronomy 5 25 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 5 recounts Moses' review of the covenant established at Mount Horeb (Sinai). Moses is addressing the new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, reminding them of the awe-inspiring and terrifying events when God Himself spoke the Ten Commandments. The verses immediately preceding 5:25 (Deu 5:22-24) describe God's voice coming from the fire, out of the thick darkness, accompanied by a great voice that did not cease. The Israelites experienced this theophany as a literal, physical, and overwhelming encounter, leading to this declaration of terror and the subsequent request for a mediator. Their fear here is not a rejection of God, but a desperate cry born out of the profound realization of their mortality and sinfulness in the presence of His absolute holiness. This forms the basis for God instituting prophets as His intermediaries, culminating in the ultimate Prophet, the Messiah.
Deuteronomy 5 25 Word analysis
- Now therefore: Connects this plea to the immediate, terrifying experience described. It indicates a conclusion drawn from what they just witnessed and heard.
- why should we die?: A rhetorical question expressing extreme fear and a desperate desire to avoid perishing. It reveals an instinctive human reaction to imminent divine judgment or consuming holiness. It acknowledges the life-threatening danger.
- for this great fire: Refers directly to God's manifest presence on Mount Horeb (Sinai), depicted as a fiery mountain (Deu 4:11, 33, 36). The "great fire" (Hebrew: esh gedolah) signifies immense power, purity, and holiness, inherent in God's being. It is an overwhelming, active force.
- will consume us: (Hebrew: yoke'leinu from 'akal) The verb literally means "to eat" or "devour." Here, it vividly conveys the sense of utter destruction, annihilation, or being totally engulfed and destroyed by the divine fire. It suggests they believe the very essence of God's being, His holiness, is destructive to them.
- if we hear: Focuses on the act of continued auditory reception. Their concern isn't just God's presence, but His direct, personal communication.
- the voice of the LORD our God: (Hebrew: qol Yahweh Elohenu) Emphasizes the specific, personal, and terrifying nature of Yahweh, their covenant God, speaking directly without an intermediary. This direct divine speech is perceived as the source of mortal danger.
- any more: Indicates a cessation or continuation. They wish for it to stop because it's too much.
- then we shall die: A stark, certain declaration of what they believe will happen. This reaffirms their conviction that direct, sustained interaction with a holy God is lethal for them.
Words-group analysis
- "why should we die? for this great fire will consume us": This pair directly links their fear of death to the perceived destructive nature of God's fiery presence. The rhetorical question implies that dying would be an unnecessary or tragic outcome if it can be avoided. Their reasoning is that God's nature, expressed as a "great fire," is inherently overwhelming and perilous to their existence.
- "great fire will consume us": This phrase captures the immediate, overwhelming, and potentially annihilating effect they attribute to God's raw presence. It reflects a primal fear of being obliterated by a power infinitely beyond them. This fire symbolizes God's purity, His awesome power, and His unapproachable holiness for sinful humanity.
- "if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die": This highlights the specific perceived threat: not just God's presence, but His continued direct speaking. The fear here moves beyond just seeing the fire to enduring the profound weight of His holy, spoken words. This deep apprehension drives their request for a mediator, establishing the prophetic office, and ultimately foreshadowing Christ who bridges the gap between God and humanity.
Deuteronomy 5 25 Bonus section
The Israelites' cry, "why should we die?" echoes a deep theological principle: a holy God cannot directly commune with an unholy people without destructive consequences due to sin. This is not arbitrary divine anger, but an outflow of God's very nature and righteousness. This terror underscores the difference between reverential fear of God (which leads to obedience and wisdom) and the overwhelming dread of immediate annihilation due to His holiness, which drives them to seek mediation. The experience at Sinai highlighted that the covenant relationship required an ongoing pathway to God—initially through a human mediator (Moses), then through the sacrifices and priestly system, and ultimately, permanently through Christ. The terror of God's voice directly from the fire at Sinai sets a stark contrast with the accessibility and grace found through Christ in the New Covenant, where believers can now "approach the throne of grace with confidence" (Heb 4:16).
Deuteronomy 5 25 Commentary
Deuteronomy 5:25 is a profound expression of humanity's inability to stand directly before a perfectly holy God without peril. The Israelites' terrified plea at Horeb underscores the immense gap between sinful humanity and divine holiness. The "great fire" is a biblical motif for God's purity, justice, and consuming zeal. For them, enduring the "voice of the LORD" meant an immediate end to life, revealing a stark truth about humanity's frailty and sin. This moment of terror served a divine purpose: it revealed to Israel their desperate need for an intermediary, preparing them for the institution of the prophetic office (like Moses) and ultimately pointing to the Great Mediator, Jesus Christ. The direct, unfiltered encounter with God's law brought overwhelming conviction of sin and a sense of impending doom, emphasizing that while the Law is good, it cannot give life, only reveal the need for it.