The Meaning of Exodus 20:18 Explained

Exodus 20:18

KJV: 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.

YLT: And all the people are seeing the voices, and the flames, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mount smoking; and the people see, and move, and stand afar off,

Darby: And all the people saw the thunderings, and the flames, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off,

ASV: And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 20:18 Mean?

Study Notes

afar off
For contrast between law and grace, cf. Ephesians 2:13 ; Luke 1:10 with Hebrews 10:19-22 .

Context Summary

Exodus 20:18-26 - The People Fear Idols And Altars
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 nestled to His heart. But even then there were some who desired Him to depart out of their coasts. So here, while Moses drew near, the people stood afar off. Let us not be among those who avoid the near presence of God, but of those who are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Let us exercise our right to draw near to the throne of grace, and stand in the very presence of our Father-God, because we have a great High Priest, who is passed through the heavens.
At Exodus 20:22, we begin the Book of the Covenant, which extends to Exodus 23:33, containing a series of wholesome laws, and the first enactment deals with the worship of the Most High. Note that in all places He will record His Name. Everywhere we may worship Him. The altar had to be of earth, teaching us the lessons of humility, simplicity and self-abasement. See Hebrews 13:10. But always the adjustment with God precedes rightness toward man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 20

1  The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah
18  The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them
21  Idolatry is forbidden
23  Of what sort the altar should be

What do the individual words in Exodus 20:18 mean?

And all the people witnessed - the thunderings and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet the mountain smoking and when saw [it] the people and they trembled and stood afar off
וְכָל־ הָעָם֩ רֹאִ֨ים אֶת־ הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת וְאֶת־ הַלַּפִּידִ֗ם וְאֵת֙ ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר הָהָ֖ר עָשֵׁ֑ן וַיַּ֤רְא הָעָם֙ וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ מֵֽרָחֹֽק

וְכָל־  And  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָעָם֩  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
רֹאִ֨ים  witnessed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת  the  thunderings 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
הַלַּפִּידִ֗ם  the  lightning  flashes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: לַפִּיד  
Sense: torch.
ק֣וֹל  the  sound 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר  of  the  trumpet 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁופָר  
Sense: horn, ram’s horn.
הָהָ֖ר  the  mountain 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
עָשֵׁ֑ן  smoking 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָשֵׁן  
Sense: smoking.
וַיַּ֤רְא  and  when  saw  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הָעָם֙  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ  and  they  trembled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נוּעַ  
Sense: to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift, make move, wave, waver, tremble.
וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ  and  stood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
מֵֽרָחֹֽק  afar  off 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 20:18?

Loading Information...