These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"These words ADONAI spoke to your entire gathering at the mountain from fire, cloud and thick mist, in a loud voice; then it ceased. But he wrote them on two stone tablets, which he gave to me.
Berean Standard Bible:
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
American Standard Version:
These words Jehovah spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them upon two tables of stone, and gave them unto me.
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.
Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day [that] the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
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Commentary for Deuteronomy 5:22
Deuteronomy 5:22 is part of the second telling of the Ten Commandments in the Bible, specifically within the book that recounts Moses' final speeches to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. The historical context of this verse is the period of the Exodus, when the Israelites were wandering in the Sinai desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. The book of Deuteronomy is presented as a series of sermons or speeches delivered by Moses to the people, emphasizing the importance of following God's laws as they prepare to enter and possess the land of Canaan.
The themes of Deuteronomy 5:22 include:
1. **Divine Revelation**: The verse emphasizes the direct and dramatic way in which God communicated with the Israelites. The setting is Mount Sinai (also known as Mount Horeb), where God's presence is manifested through fire, cloud, and thick darkness—symbolizing the awesomeness and transcendence of God.
2. **The Decalogue**: The "words" refer to the Ten Commandments, which are a foundational moral code for the Israelites and for much of Western law and ethics. These commandments are presented as the terms of the covenant between God and Israel.
3. **The Stone Tablets**: The verse describes how God himself inscribed the commandments on two stone tablets, signifying their permanence and the unchanging nature of God's moral standards. This act also serves as a tangible reminder of the covenant.
4. **Moses' Role as Mediator**: Moses is depicted as the mediator between God and the people, receiving the commandments and then conveying them to the Israelites. This reinforces his role as a leader and lawgiver.
5. **Theophany**: The description of the event as occurring "out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness" is characteristic of a theophany, a visible manifestation of God's presence, which was often accompanied by such terrifying phenomena in the ancient world.
6. **Covenant Renewal**: Deuteronomy as a whole is about renewing the covenant between God and Israel, and this verse is part of that renewal process, reminding the people of the original giving of the law and its significance for their ongoing relationship with God.
In summary, Deuteronomy 5:22 recounts the solemn and awe-inspiring moment when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, which were then inscribed on stone tablets. This event is central to Israel's identity as a people bound to God by a covenant that requires obedience to His laws. The verse underscores the themes of divine authority, covenant faithfulness, and the role of Moses as the one who intercedes for and instructs the people of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H1697 There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: דָּבָר Transliteration: dâbâr Pronunciation: daw-baw' Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
Strong's Number: H3068 There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יְהֹוָה Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw' Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
Strong's Number: H1696 There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: דָבַר Transliteration: dâbar Pronunciation: daw-bar' Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
Strong's Number: H6951 There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: קָהָל Transliteration: qâhâl Pronunciation: kaw-hawl' Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude.
Strong's Number: H2022 There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: הַר Transliteration: har Pronunciation: har Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion.
Strong's Number: H8432 There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: תָּוֶךְ Transliteration: tâvek Pronunciation: taw'-vek Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
Strong's Number: H784 There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֵשׁ Transliteration: ʼêsh Pronunciation: aysh Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
Strong's Number: H6051 There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עָנָן Transliteration: ʻânân Pronunciation: aw-nawn' Description: from עָנַן; a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud; cloud(-y).
Strong's Number: H6205 There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עֲרָפֶל Transliteration: ʻărâphel Pronunciation: ar-aw-fel' Description: probably from עָרַף; gloom (as of a lowering sky); (gross, thick) dark (cloud, -ness).
Strong's Number: H1419 There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: גָּדוֹל Transliteration: gâdôwl Pronunciation: gaw-dole' Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.
Strong's Number: H6963 There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: קוֹל Transliteration: qôwl Pronunciation: kole Description: or קֹל; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound; [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell.
Strong's Number: H3254 There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָסַף Transliteration: yâçaph Pronunciation: yaw-saf' Description: a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing); add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idiom] longer (bring, do, make, much, put), [idiom] (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed (further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, [idiom] yet, yield.
Strong's Number: H3789 There are 212 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כָּתַב Transliteration: kâthab Pronunciation: kaw-thab' Description: a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe); describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).
Strong's Number: H8147 There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שְׁנַיִם Transliteration: shᵉnayim Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
Strong's Number: H3871 There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: לוּחַ Transliteration: lûwach Pronunciation: loo'-akh Description: or לֻחַ; from a primitive root; probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal; board, plate, table.
Strong's Number: H68 There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֶבֶן Transliteration: ʼeben Pronunciation: eh'-ben Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
Strong's Number: H5414 There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָתַן Transliteration: nâthan Pronunciation: naw-than' Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.