Deuteronomy 33:2

And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law for them.

And he said {H559}, The LORD {H3068} came {H935} from Sinai {H5514}, and rose up {H2224} from Seir {H8165} unto them; he shined forth {H3313} from mount {H2022} Paran {H6290}, and he came {H857} with ten thousands {H7233} of saints {H6944}: from his right hand {H3225} went a fiery {H799}{H784} law {H1881} for them.

"ADONAI came from Sinai; from Se'ir he dawned on his people, shone forth from Mount Pa'ran; and with him were myriads of holy ones; at his right hand was a fiery law for them.

He said: โ€œThe LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.

And he said, Jehovah came from Sinai, And rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And he came from the ten thousands of holy ones: At his right hand was a fiery law for them.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:2 is part of Moses' final blessing upon the tribes of Israel, delivered just before his death. In this poetic declaration, Moses recounts the majestic and awe-inspiring manifestation of God's presence and the giving of His divine law to the nation of Israel.

Context

This verse opens Moses' prophetic blessing, a farewell address that looks back on God's faithfulness and forward to Israel's future. It serves as a powerful reminder of the covenant established at Mount Sinai, the pivotal moment when the LORD descended in fire and smoke to deliver the Ten Commandments and other statutes. The mention of Seir (associated with Edom) and Mount Paran (a significant wilderness region where Israel journeyed after Sinai, Numbers 10:12) paints a picture of God's pervasive presence and guidance throughout their early history, not confined to one mountain but accompanying them through diverse territories.

Key Themes

  • Divine Manifestation and Glory: The imagery of the LORD "coming," "rising up," and "shining forth" from various mountains emphasizes God's glorious and powerful self-revelation. His arrival with "ten thousands of saints" (likely angelic hosts, Psalm 68:17) underscores the supernatural and holy nature of the event at Sinai, highlighting the immense reverence due to Him.
  • The Authority and Nature of the Law: The phrase "a fiery law for them" powerfully describes the Torah. It was given directly "from his right hand," signifying divine authority and power. The "fiery" aspect conveys its purity, its demanding nature, and perhaps the visible fire and thunder that accompanied its giving (Exodus 19:18). It is a law that both illuminates and purifies, like fire, and demands a holy response.
  • God's Unwavering Presence: Moses reminds Israel that God was not a distant deity but intimately involved in their formation as a nation, guiding them through the wilderness and establishing His covenant with them.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated as "fiery law" is esh dat (ืึตืฉื ื“ึผึธืช). Esh means "fire," and dat means "law," "decree," or "religion." This vivid description emphasizes not only the dramatic, fire-accompanied delivery of the Law at Sinai but also its inherent nature: it is pure, potent, and transformative, much like fire. It can both consume and refine, indicating the Law's capacity to reveal sin and to guide towards righteousness.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 33:2 reminds us of the profound origin and authority of God's Word. For believers today, it reinforces that the principles and commands given by God are not arbitrary but come from a holy, powerful, and ever-present God. Just as the Law was a guide for Israel, God's Word continues to be our lamp and light (Psalm 119:105), revealing His character and guiding our path. It calls us to respect the divine origin of scripture and to live in light of God's glorious and authoritative revelation.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 5:4

    LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

  • Judges 5:5

    The mountains melted from before the LORD, [even] that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

  • Habakkuk 3:3

    ยถ God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

  • Revelation 5:11

    And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

  • Jude 1:14

    And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

  • Psalms 68:17

    The chariots of God [are] twenty thousand, [even] thousands of angels: the Lord [is] among them, [as in] Sinai, in the holy [place].

  • Acts 7:53

    Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept [it].
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