Exodus 20:21

And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Berean Standard Bible

In The King James Version

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

In Context

20“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”

22Then the LORD said to Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.

Read all of Exodus 20

Cross References

Exodus 19:16On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

Deuteronomy 5:22The 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.

2 Chronicles 6:1Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud;

Psalms 18:12From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced— hailstones and coals of fire.

Psalms 104:2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,

Matthew Henry on Exodus 20:19-22

Terror with Which the Law Was Given. ( b. c. 1491.) 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. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Exodus 20:21