Exodus 20:18-22

The Ten Commandments

18 Now when all the people saw w the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid 1 and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, x "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die." 20 y Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to z test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin." 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the a thick darkness where God was.

Laws About Altars

22 And the Lord said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have b talked with you from heaven.

  1. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:18
    For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 5:25
    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 5:27
    Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.
    Deuteronomy 18:16
    Just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.
    Galatians 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.
    Hebrews 12:19
    And the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 12:20
    And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 22:1
    After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I.
    Deuteronomy 13:3
    You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 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 gloom.
    2 Samuel 22:10
    He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
    1 Kings 8:12
    Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
    Psalms 18:9
    He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
    Psalms 97:2
    Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
  6. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:36
    Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.
    Nehemiah 9:13
    You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
    Hebrews 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.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.