Exodus 20:20 kjv

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

Exodus 20:20 nkjv

And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."

Exodus 20:20 niv

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

Exodus 20:20 esv

Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin."

Exodus 20:20 nlt

"Don't be afraid," Moses answered them, "for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!"

Exodus 20 verses

Exodus 20 20 Meaning

Moses clarifies the terrifying divine manifestation at Sinai was not to drive the people away in dread, but to refine their understanding of God's holy nature. God's purpose in "testing" them was to implant a deep, reverential awe – "His fear" – within them. This "fear of the Lord" is not a crippling terror but a profound respect and devotion, serving as a constant moral compass. The ultimate goal is to motivate continuous obedience to God's commandments, thereby preventing them from straying into sin and preserving their covenant relationship.

Exodus 20 20 Context

Exodus 20:20 occurs immediately after the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The Israelites had just witnessed a powerful and terrifying display of God's presence: thunder, lightning, the sound of a trumpet, and the smoking mountain (Ex 20:18). This awesome manifestation caused the people to tremble and stand afar off, overwhelmed with dread. Their fearful reaction led them to ask Moses to mediate directly with God, expressing, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Ex 20:19). Moses’s response in verse 20 is a direct address to this terror-stricken response, clarifying God's benevolent and instructional intent behind the awesome display. He redefines the nature of the "fear" God desires, shifting it from paralyzing dread to reverential awe that cultivates obedience.

Exodus 20 20 Word analysis

• And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear,”
  • "Do not fear": לֹא תִירָאוּ (lo tirau). This imperative uses the Hebrew verb yare', which carries a dual meaning depending on context: "to be afraid, terrified" (as the people were at Sinai's display, from the word pahad) or "to stand in awe, reverence, venerate." Here, Moses tells them not to be afraid with the paralytic fear of dread (pahad), but to instead cultivate the beneficial fear of reverence (yir'ah). Their physical terror was understandable, but it was not God's ultimate intention.
• "for God has come to test you,"
  • "to test you": לְבַעֲבוּר נַסּוֹת אֶתְכֶם (l'avur nassot etchem). The verb is nassah, meaning to prove, test, or try. This "testing" is not because God needs to discover what is in their hearts (He already knows), but rather to reveal to the people themselves what is within them, to demonstrate His power and holiness, and to refine their character and faith. It's for their benefit, not God's enlightenment.
• "that His fear may be before you,"
  • "that His fear": יִרְאָתוֹ (yir'ato). This is the noun form of yare'. This is the desirable form of fear – a deep, respectful awe, reverence, and understanding of God’s absolute power, holiness, and majesty. It's not a slavish dread but a profound honor that motivates right living.
  • "may be before you": תִּהְיֶה עַל-פְּנֵיכֶם (tihyeh al-pneichem). Literally "that it be upon your face/presence." This implies that God's fear should be a constant, visible, and deeply ingrained awareness that influences every action and thought, serving as a protective shield against wrongdoing.
• "that you may not sin.”
  • "that you may not sin": לְבִלְתִּי תֶחֱטָאוּ (l'vilti techet'au). The verb is chat'a, meaning to miss the mark, err, or transgress. This is the ultimate practical outcome of God's benevolent testing and the proper fear instilled: to prevent transgression against His commandments. A healthy reverence for God serves as a powerful deterrent to disobedience.
• "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that His fear may be before you,"
  • This phrase contrasts two kinds of fear: the initial, natural dread from an overwhelming display of divine power, and the desired, cultivated reverence that God intends. The terror serves as a means to introduce the awe. God's purpose in coming down in such power was precisely to create an impression so profound that it would instill the right kind of fear – a reverence that leads to holiness and prevents future sin, demonstrating His glory not as an end in itself, but for the moral edification of His people.

Exodus 20 20 Bonus section

The immediate and terrifying encounter at Sinai (Ex 19) served a polemical purpose against the pagan cults prevalent in the ancient Near East. Unlike capricious, arbitrary, or often anthropomorphic deities who were appeased through magical rites and feared for their destructive power without moral implication, Yahweh's display of power was explicitly linked to the establishment of a moral and ethical code—the Ten Commandments. The awe and reverence ("His fear") generated were not for superstitious propitiation, but for moral conduct and faithful adherence to a covenant of righteousness. The very real presence of God at Sinai underscored the uniqueness of Israel's God as both utterly transcendent and intimately engaged, commanding a "fear" that led to righteous living, rather than mere ritualistic appeasement of a volatile deity. This "fear of the Lord" became a distinguishing mark of the covenant people, demonstrating a unique, personal relationship with a holy and just God.

Exodus 20 20 Commentary

Exodus 20:20 provides crucial clarity regarding God's awesome manifestation at Sinai. While the people's immediate response was paralyzing dread, Moses reassures them that this terrifying display was purposeful. God did not intend to destroy or alienate them through fear, but rather to establish a profound and enduring understanding of His holiness and authority. The "testing" served to engrave upon their hearts the gravity of His presence and the weight of His commands. This experience was designed to instill "His fear," which is a reverential awe – a deep, honorable respect for who God is, His power, and His expectations. This reverence acts as a preventative force, ensuring their continued obedience and guiding them away from sin, thus securing their blessed relationship within the covenant. It underscores that true fear of God is not about cowering, but about embracing a posture of humble obedience and loving adherence to His will. For example, a child's respectful awe for a loving, yet firm, parent inspires them to obey rules, not out of dread of punishment, but out of a desire to please and maintain the loving relationship.