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Hebrews 12:20

in Hebrews 12

For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

KJV

(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

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This verse in Hebrews 12

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Hebrews · Written before 1107.

That is, they could not bear to hear with their ears what God was saying, as something terrifying. And so they became the reason for God's appearing in the flesh, so as to become accessible to them.

This site's exposition

a mountain that can be touched

on Hebrews 12:18-21

The comparison opens with Sinai, a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire. The rule about an animal that touches the mountain comes from Exodus 19:12 to 13. Moses' words I am trembling with fear come from outside the Exodus account of Sinai.

This site's exposition

If even an animal touches the mountain

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the rule as even a beast, and much more a man. The letter shortens the full order of Exodus 19:12 and names only the stoning, which applied to the human offender. John Wesley places the terror in the hearing itself.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews · Written before 550.

proposed

"For they could not bear what was commanded." He stated the reason for the excuse, because they could not bear what was being defined, that is, what was being commanded or said. Indeed, they said to Moses: "Speak to us, and let not God speak …

A commentator

Theodoret of Cyrus

INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 12 · Written before 458.

proposed

While he brought out the fearsome things, he did not reveal the fruit springing from them. He did not say he "appeared," because what they saw was not the God of all in person but some impression of the divine coming.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Hebrews 32 · Written before 407.

proposed

Wonderful indeed were the things in the Temple, the Holy of Holies; and again awful were those things also that were done at Mount Sinai, "the fire, the darkness, the blackness, the tempest." For, it says, "God appeared in Sinai," and long ago were these things celebrated. The New Covenant, however, was not given with any of these things, but has been given in simple discourse by God. See then how he makes the comparison in these points also. And with good reason has he put them afterwards. For when he had persuaded them by innumerable arguments, when he had also shown the difference between each covenant, then afterwards, the one having been already condemned, he easily enters on these points also. These things, he means, are terrible; and so terrible that they could not even bear to hear them, that not even "a beast" dared to go up. For it is said, "Let not God speak, but let Moses speak unto us. And so fearful was that which was commanded, Though even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake." What wonder as respects the people? He himself who entered into "the darkness where God was," saith, "I exceedingly fear and quake." Fearful were those things, but these are far more admirable and glorious. For here there is not "darkness," nor "blackness," nor "tempest." It seems to me that by these words he hints at the obscurity of the Old Testament, and the overshadowed and veiled character of the Law. And besides the Giver of the Law appears in fire terrible, and apt to punish those who transgress. But what are "the sounds of the trumpet"? Probably it is as though some King were coming. This at all events will also be at the second coming. "At the last trump" all must be raised. But it is the trumpet of His voice which effects this. […]

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Hebrews · Written before 1274.

proposed

701. – He mentions the reason why they excused themselves, namely, because they could not endure God's words; hence, they could not endure the order that was given: 'What is all flesh that it should hear the voice of the living God, who speaks out …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

It was a gross sensible state. Mount Sinai, on which that church-state was constituted, was a mount that might be touched (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

For they could not endure that which was commanded,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

For they could not endure that which was commanded - They could not sustain the awe produced by the fact that God uttered his commands himself. The meaning is not that the commands themselves were intolerable, but that the manner in which they were communicated inspired a terror which they could not bear. They feared that they should die; Exo 20:19. And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned - Exo 19:13. The prohibition was, that neither beast nor man should touch it on pain of death.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

that which was commanded--"the interdict" [TITTMANN]. A stern interdictory mandate is meant. And--rather, "Even if a beast (much more a man) touch," &c. or thrust through with a dart--omitted in the oldest manuscripts.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

The words behind it

11 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

10 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Exodus 19:12–13And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.12 worksExodus 3:5“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”8 worksDeuteronomy 33:2He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.4 worksExodus 19:13No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”3 worksGalatians 3:10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”2 worksExodus 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.2 works
The other 4 cross-references, with their words ▾
Galatians 2:19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.2 worksExodus 34:3No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain—not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.”2 worksLeviticus 20:16If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it, you must kill both the woman and the animal. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.2 worksRomans 3:19–20Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Galatians 3:10

    All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 27:26

      ‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

    • Romans 8:7

      because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

    • Romans 3:19–20

      Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

    • Deuteronomy 11:26–28

      See, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse—

    • James 2:9–11

      But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

  • Through

    Galatians 2:19

    For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.

    it leads to

    • Romans 7:4

      Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear…

    • Romans 6:2

      Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

  • Through

    Deuteronomy 33:2

    He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.

    it leads to

    • Habakkuk 3:3

      God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and His praise filled the earth.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

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About Hebrews

The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, Dieric Bouts, 1464 to 1467. Public domain.
The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, Dieric Bouts, 1464 to 1467. Public domain.
Hebrews: the study guide →Read Hebrews 12 →
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 32; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Owen, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 12; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.

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