KJV King James Version
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was].
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Exodus 20:21
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was].
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
WEB World English Bible
The people stayed at a distance, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
ASV American Standard Version
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
And the people stand afar off, and Moses hath drawn nigh unto the thick darkness where God is.
Surrounding context — Exodus 20
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 Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was].
22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
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Original-language word links
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Cross-references
1 Kings 8:12Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.Psalm 97:2Clouds and darkness [are] round about him: righteousness and judgment [are] the habitation of his throne.Psalm 18:9He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness [was] under his feet.1 Timothy 6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen.2 Chronicles 6:1Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.Psalm 104:2Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:Psalm 18:12At the brightness [that was] before him his thick clouds passed, hail [stones] and coals of fire.Exodus 19:16-17And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that [was] in the camp trembled.Deuteronomy 5:5(I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,Deuteronomy 5:22These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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