Deuteronomy 18:16

According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

According to all that thou desiredst {H7592} of the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} in Horeb {H2722} in the day {H3117} of the assembly {H6951}, saying {H559}, Let me not hear {H8085} again {H3254} the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} my God {H430}, neither let me see {H7200} this great {H1419} fire {H784} any more, that I die {H4191} not.

just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!'

This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!”

according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:16 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's history at Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai), where the people encountered the overwhelming presence of the LORD directly. This verse explains the basis for God's promise to raise up prophets, fulfilling the people's desire for a mediator between themselves and the divine.

Context

The setting for this verse is the giving of the Law at Mount Horeb, as described in Exodus chapters 19 and 20, and reiterated in Deuteronomy chapter 5. The Israelites witnessed a terrifying display of God's power and holiness: thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, the sound of a trumpet, and the mountain smoking and quaking. The "voice of the LORD" referred to the direct proclamation of the Ten Commandments, accompanied by a "great fire" that signified God's glorious and consuming presence. The people's reaction was one of profound fear, leading them to request that Moses act as their go-between, rather than having God speak to them directly.

Key Themes

  • Divine Holiness and Human Frailty: The verse powerfully illustrates the vast chasm between God's absolute holiness and humanity's finite, sinful nature. God's unmediated presence was too glorious and terrifying for the people to bear without fearing death.
  • The Need for Mediation: The people's plea, "Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not," highlights their desperate need for someone to stand between them and God. This sets the stage for the prophetic office.
  • Reverence and Awe: While born of fear for their lives, the Israelites' reaction also stemmed from a profound awe and reverence for the Almighty. This respectful fear (yirah in Hebrew) is a foundational aspect of Old Testament faith.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Horeb" is often used interchangeably with "Sinai" in the Old Testament, referring to the mountain where God made His covenant with Israel. The descriptions of "the voice of the LORD" and "this great fire" are not merely poetic but describe a tangible, overwhelming manifestation of God's glory (see Exodus 24:17), which impressed upon the people the gravity and power of the divine presence.

Significance and Application

Deuteronomy 18:16 is crucial because it provides the historical context for God's promise in the very next verse (Deuteronomy 18:17-18) to raise up a Prophet like Moses. This prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who serves as the perfect and final mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Through Christ, we can approach God's throne of grace with confidence, no longer needing to fear immediate death from His overwhelming presence, yet still maintaining a deep reverence for His holiness (Hebrews 12:28). The verse reminds us of both God's unapproachable majesty and His gracious provision for us to draw near through the appointed mediator.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 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.

  • Deuteronomy 9:10

    And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them [was written] according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

  • Deuteronomy 5:23

    ¶ And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, [even] all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

  • Deuteronomy 5:28

    And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.

  • Hebrews 12:19

    And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
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