The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:11 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:11

KJV: And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.

YLT: and ye draw near and stand under the mountain, and the mountain is burning with fire unto the heart of the heavens -- darkness, cloud, yea, thick darkness:

Darby: And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and obscurity.

ASV: And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the heart of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And ye came near  and stood  under the mountain;  and the mountain  burned  with fire  unto the midst  of heaven,  with darkness,  clouds,  and thick darkness. 

What does Deuteronomy 4:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 - "take Heed To Thyself"
Strong faith was required by the two and a half tribes to leave their wives and children while they went to succor their brethren. But God's commands and assurances foreclosed all arguments. Whenever we are summoned to special service, we may consign the care of our personal interests to God. Seek first the kingdom, and all other things will be added.
Notice that Moses referred to the wondrous acts of the Exodus as only the beginning of God's wondrous works, Deuteronomy 3:24. Probably in the countless ages of eternity we shall always feel that we are witnessing only the beginning of God's self-revelation.
Moses, like Paul afterward, tried to reverse the divine decision. Compare Deuteronomy 3:23-25 and 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. Do not pray against God's will, but with it, 1 John 5:14. When God says No, there are always tender compensations, such as this Pisgah-vision.
Israel's tenure of Canaan depended on obedience to God's will, in statutes, including the ordinances of religion, and in judgments relating to civil matters. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 4

1  An exhortation to obedience
41  Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44  Recapitulation

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:11 mean?

And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven with darkness cloud and thick darkness
וַתִּקְרְב֥וּן וַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּן תַּ֣חַת הָהָ֑ר וְהָהָ֞ר בֹּעֵ֤ר בָּאֵשׁ֙ עַד־ לֵ֣ב הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם חֹ֖שֶׁךְ עָנָ֥ן וַעֲרָפֶֽל

וַתִּקְרְב֥וּן  And  you  came  near 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
וַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּן  and  stood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
תַּ֣חַת  at  the  foot 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
הָהָ֑ר  of  the  mountain 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
וְהָהָ֞ר  and  the  mountain 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
בֹּעֵ֤ר  burned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּעַר 
Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.
בָּאֵשׁ֙  with  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
לֵ֣ב  the  midst 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם  of  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
חֹ֖שֶׁךְ  with  darkness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁךְ  
Sense: darkness, obscurity.
עָנָ֥ן  cloud 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
וַעֲרָפֶֽל  and  thick  darkness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲרָפֶל  
Sense: cloud, heavy or dark cloud, darkness, gross darkness, thick darkness.

What are the major concepts related to Deuteronomy 4:11?

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