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, then we shall die.

Now therefore why should we die {H4191}? for this great {H1419} fire {H784} will consume {H398} us: if we hear {H8085} the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} our God {H430} any more {H3254}, then we shall die {H4191}.

But why should we keep risking death? This great fire will consume us! If we hear the voice of ADONAI our God any more, we will die!

But now, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us, and we will die, if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer.

Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Jehovah our God any more, then we shall die.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 5:25 captures the profound awe and terror experienced by the Israelites at Mount Horeb (Sinai) after hearing God's direct voice speak the Ten Commandments. The people, overwhelmed by the manifestation of God's fiery presence, feared that continued direct interaction with the Almighty would lead to their death.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' recounting of the covenant given at Mount Horeb, as he reiterates the Law to the new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. The preceding verses in Deuteronomy 5 describe the dramatic and terrifying scene of God descending upon the mountain in fire, cloud, and thick darkness, speaking directly to the people. The visual and auditory spectacle of God's immense power was so overwhelming that the people concluded they could not survive another direct encounter. This fear led them to request Moses to act as their mediator, a plea also recorded in Exodus 20:19, where they said, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."

Key Themes

  • Divine Holiness and Human Frailty: The verse powerfully illustrates the vast chasm between God's absolute holiness and humanity's inherent sinfulness and fragility. The direct presence of a holy God was perceived as lethal to unholy people.
  • Fear of the Lord: While the Bible often speaks of a reverential "fear of the Lord" as wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), here it is a literal, overwhelming terror of divine judgment and annihilation.
  • Need for Mediation: The people's cry, "why should we die?", reveals their urgent need for an intermediary between a holy God and sinful humanity. This request foreshadows the crucial role of prophets, priests, and ultimately, the ultimate Mediator, Jesus Christ.
  • The Consuming Fire: The phrase "this great fire will consume us" speaks to God's nature as a "consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29), symbolizing His purity, judgment, and the intensity of His presence.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "consume" ('akal) can mean to eat, devour, or burn up. In this context, it conveys the idea of being utterly destroyed or annihilated by the intense divine fire and glory. The "voice of the LORD our God" (qol Yahweh Elohim) emphasizes the direct, unmediated communication they experienced, which was perceived as too potent for their mortal frames.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 5:25 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Reverence for God: It reminds us of God's immense power, holiness, and majesty, inspiring a deep sense of reverence and awe.
  • Appreciation for Mediation: The Israelites' desperate need for a mediator highlights the precious gift of Jesus Christ, who serves as the perfect and final Mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Through Him, we can now approach the throne of grace with boldness, not fear, knowing our sins are covered.
  • Understanding the Old Covenant: This verse underscores the terrifying nature of the Old Covenant law, which revealed God's righteous demands but offered no means for sinful people to stand before Him without fear. It contrasts sharply with the grace and accessibility found in the New Covenant through Christ (Hebrews 8:6).

The Israelites' fear was rational given God's holiness, but God, in His mercy, provided Moses as a temporary mediator, foreshadowing the permanent and perfect mediation of Jesus, who enables us to draw near without being consumed.

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

  • 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.

  • Galatians 3:21

    [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

  • Galatians 3:22

    But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

  • Galatians 3:10

    For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

  • 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.

  • Hebrews 12:29

    For our God [is] a consuming fire.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:7

    But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away:
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