Deuteronomy 5:23

KJV

¶ 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;

KJV (with Strong's)

And it came to pass, when ye heard {H8085} the voice {H6963} out of the midst {H8432} of the darkness {H2822},(for the mountain {H2022} did burn {H1197} with fire {H784},) that ye came near {H7126} unto me, even all the heads {H7218} of your tribes {H7626}, and your elders {H2205};

Complete Jewish Bible

When you heard the voice coming out of the darkness, as the mountain blazed with fire, you came to me, all the heads of your tribes and your leaders,

Berean Standard Bible

And when you heard the voice out of the darkness while the mountain was blazing with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your elders approached me,

American Standard Version

And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 5:23 vividly recounts the profound and terrifying experience of the Israelite leadership at Mount Horeb (Sinai). As Moses reminds the new generation, the heads of the tribes and elders were overwhelmed by the direct manifestation of God's voice emerging from the thick darkness, while the mountain itself was ablaze with fire. This pivotal moment underscored the immense holiness, power, and unapproachable glory of God, prompting the leaders to draw near to Moses, seeking his mediation in the face of such overwhelming divine presence and revelation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Moses' second major discourse in Deuteronomy, delivered to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. Chapter 5 specifically recapitulates the foundational event of the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Horeb. Moses is not merely recounting history but re-presenting the covenant, reminding the people of the solemn and awe-inspiring encounter that established their unique relationship with Yahweh. Verse 23 immediately follows God's direct declaration of the commandments in [Deuteronomy 5:22](/deuteronomy/5-22 "Deuteronomy 5:22 - God Speaks the Commandments"), emphasizing the direct, unmediated, and terrifying nature of this divine revelation. The people's fearful reaction in this verse sets the stage for their urgent request for Moses to act as a mediator, a role that becomes central to the Mosaic covenant and the subsequent structure of Israel's relationship with God. This narrative serves to impress upon the new generation the gravity, authority, and enduring relevance of the Law.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Mount Horeb (often identified with Mount Sinai), a desolate and imposing mountain in the wilderness, which became the sacred locus of God's covenant with Israel. The imagery of "darkness" and "fire" aligns with ancient Near Eastern theophanic descriptions, where powerful deities often manifested amidst dramatic natural phenomena like storms, clouds, and fire, signifying their power, majesty, and often, their terrifying aspect. For the Israelites, recently liberated from centuries of Egyptian bondage, this direct encounter with Yahweh was unparalleled and transformative. Unlike the polytheistic deities of their former oppressors, Yahweh was revealed as singular, transcendent, and supremely holy, demanding exclusive worship and absolute obedience. The hierarchical structure of "heads of your tribes, and your elders" reflects the established social and political organization of Israel, where these leaders bore the responsibility of representing the people and discerning divine will. Their collective approach to Moses signifies the corporate nature of the covenant and the shared experience of divine awe.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 5:23 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prominent throughout Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. It highlights the theme of **Divine Revelation and Awe**, portraying God's communication not as a gentle whisper but as a mighty, overwhelming voice emanating from a terrifying display of nature. This evokes profound reverence and fear, emphasizing God's transcendence and unapproachable holiness. The imagery of "darkness" and "fire" further underscores the theme of **God's Presence**, signifying both His veiled glory and His consuming purity, demanding a holy response from humanity. Furthermore, the specific mention of "all the heads of your tribes, and your elders" coming near emphasizes the theme of **Leadership and Responsibility** within the covenant community. These leaders were the primary witnesses to this awe-inspiring event, tasked with conveying its gravity and implications to the entire nation. This terrifying encounter was foundational to the **Covenant Relationship** between God and Israel, establishing the terms of their obedience and God's faithfulness, a relationship continually reiterated by Moses throughout [the book of Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/1 "Deuteronomy - The Second Law").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Voice (Hebrew, _qôwl'_):** In this context, _qôwl_ refers not merely to an audible sound but to a powerful, authoritative utterance, often associated with thunder or a divine pronouncement. It signifies the direct, unmediated speech of God, carrying immense weight and authority. The people heard God's very words, not just a sound, which instilled profound fear and reverence, recognizing the speaker as the Creator and Sovereign. This _qôwl_ was the very declaration of the Ten Commandments.
* **Darkness (Hebrew, _chôshek'_):** This term denotes a thick, deep gloom or obscurity, distinct from ordinary darkness. It is a recurring motif in biblical descriptions of God's presence, particularly at Sinai (e.g., [Exodus 20:21](/exodus/20-21 "Exodus 20:21 - God in the Thick Darkness")). _Chôshek_ signifies both the hiddenness and the unapproachable majesty of God. It suggests that while God revealed Himself, His essence remained veiled, protecting humanity from His overwhelming glory and emphasizing His transcendence and inscrutability.
* **Burn (Hebrew, _bâʻar'_):** This verb describes the mountain being actively consumed or ablaze. Coupled with "fire" (Hebrew, _ʼêsh'_), it paints a picture of intense, active combustion. Fire is a potent biblical symbol of God's holiness, purity, and consuming judgment (e.g., [Exodus 3:2](/exodus/3-2 "Exodus 3:2 - The Burning Bush")). At Sinai, the mountain's burning manifested God's glorious presence, demonstrating His power and the dangerous nature of drawing near to His unblemished holiness without proper mediation. It was a visual confirmation of the terrifying reality of God's direct speech.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness,"**: This initial clause establishes the primary sensory experience of the Israelites: an auditory encounter with God's direct speech. The "voice" is not a whisper but a powerful, authoritative sound, emanating from an impenetrable "darkness" or thick cloud. This signifies God's hidden yet powerfully manifest presence, creating an atmosphere of profound awe and dread, as the people directly perceived the divine utterance of the commandments.
* **"(for the mountain did burn with fire,)"**: This parenthetical clause provides the visual context, reinforcing the terrifying nature of the theophany. The mountain itself was ablaze, not merely illuminated, but actively "burning with fire." This imagery underscores the consuming holiness and unapproachable glory of God, confirming the danger and majesty inherent in His presence and validating the people's intense fear and reverence.
* **"that ye came near unto me, [even] all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;"**: This final clause describes the collective and fearful response of Israel's leadership. Overwhelmed by the direct divine encounter, they approached Moses, seeking his intercession. This action highlights their profound fear, their recognition of Moses' unique mediatorial role, and the corporate nature of Israel's covenant relationship with God. It sets the stage for their subsequent request for Moses to serve as their intermediary, speaking God's words to them.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 5:23 is rich in **Imagery**, particularly sensory details designed to convey the overwhelming nature of the divine encounter. The "voice out of the midst of the darkness" appeals powerfully to hearing, while the "mountain did burn with fire" appeals intensely to sight. This dual sensory input creates a powerful and immersive description of the **Theophany**, the visible and audible manifestation of God. The phrase also employs a form of **Repetition** of themes and events found in the earlier Exodus narrative (e.g., [Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - God's Appearance at Sinai") and [Exodus 20](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments")), reinforcing the foundational and unforgettable nature of this event for the new generation. The structure of the verse, moving from the divine manifestation to the human response, effectively communicates the profound impact of God's presence on His people. The inclusion of "all the heads of your tribes, and your elders" emphasizes the **Synecdoche**, where these leaders represent the entire nation, highlighting the collective and covenantal nature of Israel's relationship with God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 5:23 profoundly illustrates the biblical theme of God's awesome holiness and the human inability to stand directly in His unmediated presence. The terrifying display of darkness, fire, and a thunderous voice from the mountain emphasizes God's transcendence, His absolute otherness, and the inherent danger for sinful humanity to approach a perfectly holy God. This encounter established the necessity of mediation between a holy God and sinful humanity, a concept central to the Old Covenant. The people's fear was not merely a reaction to a natural phenomenon but a profound spiritual apprehension of the Holy One of Israel, leading them to seek an intermediary in Moses. This foundational event set the precedent for the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system, all designed to bridge the chasm between God's holiness and human sinfulness, providing a pathway, albeit temporary, for reconciliation and fellowship.

* [Exodus 20:18-19](/exodus/20-18-19 "Exodus 20:18-19 - People's Fear and Request for Moses' Mediation")
* [Hebrews 12:18-21](/hebrews/12-18-21 "Hebrews 12:18-21 - The Terrifying Nature of Sinai")
* [1 Kings 8:12](/1_kings/8-12 "1 Kings 8:12 - God Dwells in Thick Darkness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 5:23 serves as a powerful reminder of the profound reverence due to God. While we no longer encounter God's voice from a burning mountain, His inspired Word, the Bible, remains our primary means of hearing from Him today. This verse calls us to approach Scripture with humility, seriousness, and a recognition of its divine authority, understanding that we are encountering the very words of the living God. The fear of the Lord, as demonstrated by the Israelites, is not a cowering terror but a profound awe and respect that leads to obedience, a desire for intimacy, and a deep understanding of His holiness. This passage also highlights the enduring importance of spiritual leadership within faith communities, who are called to draw near to God's truth, understand its implications, and faithfully guide others in understanding and obeying it. It challenges us to consider how seriously we take God's revelation and whether our lives reflect a genuine awe of His majesty and a humble submission to His will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "darkness" and "fire" at Mount Horeb shape your understanding of God's holiness and majesty?**
* **In what ways do you "draw near" to God's presence in your daily life, and what attitude of reverence do you bring to that encounter?**
* **What lessons can modern spiritual leaders draw from the response of the "heads of your tribes, and your elders" in this verse, particularly regarding their responsibility to mediate truth?**
* **How does the awe and fear experienced by the Israelites at Sinai compare to your own experience of God's presence or His revealed Word?**

### FAQ
**Why did God manifest Himself with such terrifying phenomena like darkness and fire?**

Answer: God manifested Himself with such terrifying phenomena to underscore His absolute holiness, power, and transcendence. The "darkness" (Hebrew: _chôshek'_) signifies His unapproachable mystery and veiled glory, protecting humanity from the full intensity of His presence, while the "fire" (Hebrew: _ʼêsh'_) symbolizes His consuming holiness, purity, and righteous judgment. This dramatic display was intended to instill a profound sense of awe and reverence (the "fear of the Lord") in the Israelites, impressing upon them the gravity of the covenant they were entering and the immense authority of the Law being given. It was a visual and auditory demonstration that the God of Israel was unlike any other deity, demanding exclusive worship and obedience, as seen throughout [Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - God's Appearance at Sinai") and [Exodus 20](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 5:23, with its depiction of a terrifying, unapproachable God and the people's desperate need for a mediator, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate mediation provided in Jesus Christ. The Israelites, overwhelmed by the voice from the darkness and the burning mountain, could not bear to hear God directly and pleaded for Moses to intercede on their behalf (as described in [Deuteronomy 5:24-27](/deuteronomy/5-24-27 "Deuteronomy 5:24-27 - The People's Request for a Mediator")). This highlights humanity's inherent inability, due to sin, to stand before a holy God. However, the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ, offers a radically different access. As the author of Hebrews contrasts, we have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire, but to [Mount Zion, to the city of the living God](/hebrews/12-18-24 "Hebrews 12:18-24 - From Sinai to Zion"). Jesus is the superior mediator of a new and better covenant ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Jesus, the Mediator of a Better Covenant")), whose perfect sacrifice and high priestly intercession allow believers to [draw near to the throne of grace with confidence](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence"), rather than fear. He is the Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the ultimate revelation of God, who perfectly bridges the gap between divine holiness and human sin, fulfilling the longing for a mediator expressed at Sinai and granting us direct, intimate access to the Father.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 20:18

¶ And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off.

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.

Hebrews 12:18

¶ For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

Hebrews 12:21

And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)