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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Exodus 20:21

And the people stood afar off, remained standing at a distance, and Moses, as the mediator of the people, drew near unto the thick darkness where God was; in order to receive the further commands of the Lord.

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See also Exodus 20:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    Compare Deuteronomy 5:22. Aaron Exodus 19:24 on this occasion accompanied Moses in drawing near to the thick darkness. Exodus 20:22 to...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 20 THE COVENANT REVEALED _ 1. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1)_ 2. Jehovah's gracious provision (Exodus 20:18) This law covenant is now stated. It was given three times. First orally here,...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXODUS 20:18 E. ALARM OF THE PEOPLE. This resumes Exodus 19:17 or Exodus 19:19), and describes how the frightened people (read in Exodus 20:18 b

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    MOSES DREW NEAR. Of his own motion Moses would scarcely have durst to venture into the thick darkness from which ever and anon the appalling gleams of lightning burst forth; but being specially calle...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    AFAR OFF. Note the difference between law and grace. (Ephesians 2:13). DREW NEAR. Moses' fourth ascent. See note on Exodus 19:3....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _thick darkness -ǎrâphel_, the word, mostly poetical (Psalms 18:9; 1 Kings 8:12), used in Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 5:22 [Heb. 19]....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The people, alarmed by the terrible accompaniments of the theophany, express a desire that in future Moses may speak to them instead of God. Their wish is implicitly granted. Cf. Deuteronomy 5:22-31....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    MOSES DREW NEAR UNTO THE THICK DARKNESS— See note on ch. Exodus 19:20. See also ch. 24: REFLECTIONS.—With pomp of terrible majesty God thus proclaims his holy will: an emblem of the dispensation the...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 20 AND GOD SPAKE ALL THESE WORDS, SAYING, (2) I am Je-ho-vah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of E-gypt, out of the house of bondage. (3) Thou shalt have no ot...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND THE PEOPLE STOOD AFAR OFF, AND MOSES DREW NEAR UNTO THE THICK DARKNESS WHERE GOD WAS._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (VV. 1-21) Exodus 20-23, containing (1) the Decalogue (Gk. = 'Ten Words' or 'Commandments') and (2) a code of laws regulating the religious and social life of the people, and call...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: *ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO MOSES EXODUS CHAPTER S 19 TO 40 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 20 GOD’S TEN *COMMANDMENTS – VERSES 1-17 V1 God spoke all these wor...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AT THE PEOPLE’S REQUEST, MOSES BECOMES THEIR INTERMEDIARY. (18-21) The delivery of the Ten Commandments by A voice manifestly superhuman impressed the people with an awful fear. They felt the near con...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הָ עָ֖ם מֵ רָחֹ֑ק וּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE LESSER LAW. Exodus 20:18 - Exodus 23:33. With the close of the Decalogue and its universal obligations, we approach a brief code of laws, purely Hebrew, but of the deepest moral interest, confess...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE PEOPLE FEAR; IDOLS AND ALTARS Exodus 20:18 When our Lord was on earth He was so attractive and winsome that the publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him, penitents wept at His feet, children n...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here we have the Ten Words of the moral Law. They are introduced by a proclamation of God concerning Himself: first as to His name, "I am Jehovah"; second, as to His relation to them, "thy God"; and,...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    How delightful in this view of Moses is it to discover the type of Christ! Jeremiah 30:21....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai." Up to this point all the dealings of God have been the...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 19 THROUGH 23. But having thus terminated the course of grace, the scene changes entirely. They do not keep the feast on the mountain, whither God, as He had...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THE PEOPLE STOOD AFAR OFF,.... Still kept their distance in their camp and tents; or the heads and elders of the people having had this conversation with Moses, returned to their tents as they wer...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was]. Ver. 21. _Stood afar off._] Yea, God, tendering their infirmity, gave them leave to go home to their tents....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    While the people continued to stand _afar off_ Afraid of God's wrath, Moses drew near unto _the thick darkness_ He was _made to draw near;_ so the word is: Of himself he durst not have ventured into t...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The ten Commandements. 18 The people are afraid. 20 Moses comforteth them. 22 Idolatrie is forbidden. 24 Of what sort the Altar should be. 1 AND God spake all these words, saying, 2 [NOTE: Deut...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SECOND SECTION The Threefold Law of the Covenant for the Covenant People on the Basis of the Prophetic, Ethico-religious Divine Law of the Ten Commandments. Historical Prophecy Exodus 20-31 A. THE T...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (vs.1-17) Before God gives the ten commandments, He makes is abundantly clear that Israel's obedience to law had nothing to do with God's previous grace toward them in delivering...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    18-21 This law, which is so extensive that we cannot measure it, so spiritual that we cannot evade it, and so reasonable that we cannot find fault with it, will be the rule of the future judgment of...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    No text from Poole on this verse....

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    It is of the utmost importance to understand the true character and object of the moral law, as set forth in this chapter. There is a tendency in the mind to confound the principles of law and grace,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 20:21 people H5971 stood H5975 (H8799) off H7350 Moses H4872 near H5066 (H8738) darkness H6205 God...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE AFTERMATH (EXODUS 20:18). This passage immediately follows the glorious and awesome experience that has been theirs in the proclamation of Yahweh's covenant. The people are trembling in fear, and...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Ten commandments delivered to Moses at Sinai. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: A holy and righteous God has holy and righteous standards. Those who love God will constantly endeavor to...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 20:1. _God spake all these words._ In compassion to man, and the increasing weakness of human traditions, it has pleased the infinitely wise and Holy One to renew the evidences of revelation at...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _They removed, and stood afar off._ ISRAEL AND SINAI I. That all men as sinners must be brought into conscious contact with moral law. The guarantees of this conscious contact are found-- 1. In the...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS 20:1 Covenant Words and Rules. This section records what will later be referred to as the “Book of the Covenant” (Exodus 24:7) and includes: the Ten Commandments ...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 20:19. We will hear.] Kalisch happily remarks that “in the word _v‘nishma_‘AH, with the _he_ paragogicum, lies the readiness and willingness: ‘we will eagerly and gladly hear....

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION WITHDRAWAL OF THE PEOPLE, AND NEARER APPROACH OF MOSES TO GOD. The effect produced upon the people by the accumulated terrors of Sinai—"the thunderings and the lightnings, the noise of the...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And God spake these words, saying (Exodus 20:1), Now the people said, "All that the Lord commands, we will do." All right this is what the Lord has spoken. Now these are the commandments of God. I am...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    the people Exodus 19:16 Exodus 19:17 Deuteronomy 5:5 thick 1 Kings 8:12...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    While the people continued to stand afar off — Afraid of God's wrath, Moses drew near unto the thick darkness; he was made to draw near, so the word is: Moses of himself durst not have ventured into t...

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