Exodus 20:21 BSB — MannaFest

Exodus 20:21

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

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

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 the thick darkness if God had not called him, and encouraged him, and, as some of the Rabbins suppose, sent an angel to take him by the hand, and lead him up.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Thus it is said of the great Mediator, I will cause him to draw near ( Jer. xxx. 21 ), and by him it is that we also are introduced, Eph. iii. The Law Concerning Altars.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

10 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד	vai.ya.'a.Mod	and it stood	H5975 →
הָעָ֖ם	ha.'Am	the people	H5971 →
מֵרָחֹ֑ק	me.ra.Chok	from a distance	H7350 →
וּמֹשֶׁה֙	u.mo.Sheh	and Moses	H4872 →
נִגַּ֣שׁ	ni.Gash	he drew near	H5066 →
אֶל־	'el-	to	H413 →
הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל	ha.'a.ra.Fel	the thick darkness	H6205 →
אֲשֶׁר־	'a.Sher-	where	H834 →
שָׁ֖ם	sham	[was] there	H8033 →
הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ פ	ha.'E.lo.Him	<the> God	H430 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:17
  Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- John 1:18
  No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
- 1 John 1:5
  And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
- Colossians 1:15
  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- Psalms 90:2
  Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Through
1 Kings 8:12
Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
leads to
- Leviticus 16:2
  And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
Psalms 97:2
Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.
leads to
- Psalms 89:14
  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.
Through
2 Chronicles 6:1
Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud;
leads to
- Psalms 18:8–11
  Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.