The Meaning of Exodus 20:19 Explained

Exodus 20:19

KJV: And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

YLT: and say unto Moses, 'Speak thou with us, and we hear, and let not God speak with us, lest we die.'

Darby: and said to Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

ASV: And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they said  unto Moses,  Speak  thou with us, and we will hear:  but let not God  speak  with us, lest we die. 

What does Exodus 20:19 Mean?

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 20:19 mean?

And they said to Moses speak You with us and we will hear But not let speak with us God lest we die
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה דַּבֵּר־ אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְנִשְׁמָ֑עָה וְאַל־ יְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמָּ֛נוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים פֶּן־ נָמֽוּת

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙  And  they  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
דַּבֵּר־  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
עִמָּ֖נוּ  with  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
וְנִשְׁמָ֑עָה  and  we  will  hear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וְאַל־  But  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
יְדַבֵּ֥ר  let  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
עִמָּ֛נוּ  with  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
פֶּן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
נָמֽוּת  we  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.