The Meaning of Exodus 20:21 Explained

Exodus 20:21

KJV: And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

YLT: And the people stand afar off, and Moses hath drawn nigh unto the thick darkness where God is.

Darby: And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the obscurity where God was.

ASV: And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the people  stood  afar off,  and Moses  drew near  unto the thick darkness  where God  [was]. 

What does Exodus 20:21 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 20:21 mean?

So stood the people afar off but Moses drew near unto the thick darkness there there [was] God -
וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הָעָ֖ם מֵרָחֹ֑ק וּמֹשֶׁה֙ נִגַּ֣שׁ אֶל־ הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־ שָׁ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִֽים פ

וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד  So  stood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
הָעָ֖ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
מֵרָחֹ֑ק  afar  off 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.
וּמֹשֶׁה֙  but  Moses 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
נִגַּ֣שׁ  drew  near 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל  the  thick  darkness 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲרָפֶל  
Sense: cloud, heavy or dark cloud, darkness, gross darkness, thick darkness.
שָׁ֖ם  there  [was] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
הָאֱלֹהִֽים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation