Hebrews 12:21 kjv
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Hebrews 12:21 nkjv
And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.")
Hebrews 12:21 niv
The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
Hebrews 12:21 esv
Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."
Hebrews 12:21 nlt
Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."
Hebrews 12 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 19:16 | On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings... | Mount Sinai's terrifying phenomena |
| Exod 19:18 | Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire... | God's descent in fire and smoke, shaking the mountain |
| Exod 20:18 | 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. | People's fear and trembling at Sinai's terrors |
| Exod 20:19 | They said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, lest we die." | People unable to bear God's direct voice |
| Deut 4:10 | the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, 'Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me while they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.' | Purpose of Sinai - to teach fear of God |
| Deut 4:11 | And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and thick gloom. | Sinai consumed by fire, darkness, cloud, thick gloom |
| Deut 5:5 | (while 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 as mediator due to people's fear of the fire |
| Deut 5:25-26 | ...For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire, as we have, and has lived? | People's recognition of the danger of direct divine encounter |
| Deut 9:19 | For I was in dread of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord felt against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also. | Moses' own terror related to God's wrath, similar to fear here |
| Acts 7:32 | 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. | Moses' trembling at the burning bush due to God's presence |
| Ps 68:8 | the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. | Earth quakes before God at Sinai |
| Nah 1:5-6 | The mountains quake before him; the hills melt... His wrath is poured out like fire. | God's power causing natural elements to quake |
| Hab 3:16 | I heard, and my body trembled; my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones; my legs quaked beneath me. I will quietly wait for the day of trouble... | Prophet's physical terror in face of God's might and coming judgment |
| Ps 76:7 | But you, only you, are to be feared; who can stand before you when you are angry? | God alone is to be feared; who can withstand His anger |
| Ps 99:1 | The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth quake! | God's reign inspires trembling and earth's quaking |
| Isa 6:5 | And 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!" | Isaiah's terror in God's holy presence |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Contrast: believers can now approach God with confidence, not fear |
| Heb 10:19-20 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way... | Confidence to enter God's presence through Christ's sacrifice |
| Heb 12:18-19 | For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. | Immediate context: descriptions of the Sinai terror the verse refers to |
| 2 Cor 3:7-11 | Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face...how much more will the ministry of the Spirit have glory! | Contrast of Old (death/glory fades) vs New Covenant (Spirit/surpassing glory) |
| Gal 3:19 | 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. | The Law (at Sinai) was mediated, pointing to its temporary nature |
| Rom 8:15 | For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" | New Covenant relationship is adoption, not slavery to fear |
Hebrews 12 verses
Hebrews 12 21 Meaning
Hebrews 12:21 describes the overwhelming awe and terror experienced even by Moses himself at Mount Sinai during the giving of the Law. It portrays the intense and fearful manifestation of God's holy presence under the Old Covenant, highlighting its unapproachability and dreadful nature.
Hebrews 12 21 Context
Hebrews chapter 12 vividly contrasts the old covenant experience at Mount Sinai with the new covenant experience at Mount Zion. Verses 18-21 detail the terrifying, unapproachable nature of Sinai, emphasizing fire, darkness, storm, the trumpet blast, and a voice that made people beg for silence, even prohibiting animals from touching the mountain. Verse 21, specifically, serves as a climactic historical reference to underscore this point, stating that even Moses, God's chosen mediator, was overcome with fear and trembling. This extreme terror associated with Sinai sets up the profound distinction with Mount Zion (verses 22-24), which represents the heavenly Jerusalem, where believers have come to an accessible God through Jesus Christ, the Mediator of a superior covenant. The historical context relates to the biblical account of the Law being given at Mount Sinai (Horeb) as described in Exodus 19-20 and Deuteronomy 4-5.
Hebrews 12 21 Word analysis
- And so terrible: The Greek word here is phoberos (φοβερός). It denotes something dreadful, fearful, awe-inspiring, formidable. It describes the inherently frightening nature of God's manifestation at Sinai, not just as a subjective feeling, but as an objective reality. This signifies the overwhelming majesty and holiness of God.
- was the sight: Refers to the visible and sensory manifestation of God's presence at Mount Sinai. This included the consuming fire, thick darkness, storm, earthquake, trumpet blasts, and an audible divine voice. It highlights the direct, sensory encounter that overwhelmed those present, rather than just an intellectual understanding.
- that Moses said: While this precise quote from Moses ("I exceedingly fear and quake") is not found verbatim in the Old Testament accounts of Sinai (Exod 19-20, Deut 4-5), it is a synthesis or traditional summary of Moses' own recorded dread (e.g., Deut 9:19, "I was in dread of the anger and hot displeasure") and the general terror that enveloped everyone, including Moses himself. The author uses this powerful statement to emphasize that even the unique mediator of the Old Covenant was not exempt from the overwhelming dread.
- I exceedingly fear: The Greek word is ekphobos (ἔκφοβος). This is an intensified form of "fear" (phobos), meaning utterly terrified, exceedingly afraid, struck with extreme terror. It conveys a deep, almost paralyzing sense of dread, demonstrating the profound impact of God's holiness on a sinful human, even one as close to God as Moses.
- and quake: The Greek word is entromos (ἔντρομος). It means to be "in trembling," literally describing a physical state of shivering or shaking uncontrollably due to fear or awe. This highlights the visceral, bodily response to the awesome and terrifying presence of the Lord, underscoring the absolute magnitude of the divine encounter.
Words-group analysis
- "And so terrible was the sight": This phrase encapsulates the profound visual and sensory dread that emanated from Mount Sinai. It was not merely terrifying but inherently awe-striking and formidable, demonstrating the power and glory of the unapproachable God of the Old Covenant.
- "that Moses said, 'I exceedingly fear and quake.'": This full declaration attributed to Moses signifies that the terror of Sinai was so profound and absolute that even the closest and most courageous human intermediary between God and Israel was overcome. It portrays the intense spiritual and physical response to God's raw holiness and judgmental presence. This highlights that under the Old Covenant, even one walking in great obedience was confronted by a manifestation that necessitated great fear.
Hebrews 12 21 Bonus section
- The author of Hebrews often employs rhetorical amplification, here emphasizing the ultimate level of fear even to Moses to further elevate the superiority of the New Covenant experience.
- This verse is not meant to suggest God is always a terrifying Being to His children. Instead, it vividly portrays His nature when encountering an unredeemed people through the limitations of the Mosaic covenant, highlighting the severity side of His holiness that requires separation without blood atonement.
- The fact that Moses, despite his unique relationship with God, was overwhelmed reinforces the need for a truly perfect high priest and mediator, namely Jesus Christ, to bridge the gap and enable believers to approach God's holy presence not with terror but with confident awe and worship (Heb 10:19-22).
Hebrews 12 21 Commentary
Hebrews 12:21 profoundly reinforces the distinct character of God's presence under the Old Covenant. It depicts Mount Sinai not as a place of warm invitation but of dreadful, unapproachable power and holiness. The inclusion of Moses' own extreme fear and trembling is crucial; if even he, who spoke with God face-to-face (Num 12:8) and ascended the mountain, was overcome with such terror, it underscores the insurmountable chasm between God's perfect holiness and humanity's inherent sinfulness, apart from a mediator. This unmitigated divine manifestation demanded reverential fear and separation, emphasizing the limitations of the Law to bring people directly to God. The stark contrast with Mount Zion, described immediately after (Heb 12:22-24), then becomes clear: under the New Covenant, believers are invited to draw near to God with confidence, not fear, precisely because Jesus, the greater Mediator, has atoned for sins, fulfilling what the Law could only expose as human inadequacy. The verse thus sets a solemn background against which the grace and access offered by the gospel shine all the more brilliantly, challenging believers to value their privilege.