Exodus 20:19

“You speak to us, and we'll listen,” they said to Moses. “But don't let God speak to us, or we'll die.”

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

In Context

18When all the people heard the thunder and the sound of the trumpet, and saw the lightning and the smoke from the mountain, they trembled with fear and stood a long way off.

20Moses told them, “Do not be afraid, for God has only come to test you. He wants you to be in awe of him so that you don't sin.”

Read all of Exodus 20

Cross References

Genesis 32:30Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “I saw God face to face and I'm still alive!”

Deuteronomy 5:5This was the time when I stood between the Lord and you to tell you what the Lord said, because you were afraid of the fire and refused to go up the mountain. He told you,

Deuteronomy 18:16Remember what you told the Lord your God at Horeb when you were all assembled there. You said, “Please don't let us go on hearing the Lord our God speak to us, or see this terrifying fire anymore! Otherwise we're going to die!”

Galatians 3:19What was the point of the law, then? It was added to show what wrongdoing really is, until the son came to whom the promise had been made. The law was put in place by angels through the hand of a mediator.

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 →

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Study Exodus 20:19