Exodus 20:21

The people stayed at a distance, and Moses came near to the thick darkness where God was.

World English Bible British

In The King James Version

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

In Context

20Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won’t sin.”

22The LORD said to Moses, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

Read all of Exodus 20

Cross References

Exodus 19:16On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Deuteronomy 5:22The LORD spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me.

2 Chronicles 6:1Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

Psalms 18:12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.

Psalms 104:2He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

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 20:21