Deuteronomy 5:22-33

The People's Response

22 "The Lord spoke these commands in a loud voice to your entire assembly from the fire, cloud, and thick darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. He wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

23 All of you approached me with your tribal leaders and elders when you heard the voice from the darkness and while the mountain was blazing with fire.

24 You said, 'Look, the Lord our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice from the fire. Today we have seen that God speaks with a person, yet he still lives.

25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer.

26 For who out of all mankind has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the fire, as we have, and lived?

27 Go near and listen to everything the Lord our God says. Then you can tell us everything the Lord our God tells you; we will listen and obey.'^[a]

28 "The Lord heard your^[b] words when you spoke to me. He said to me, 'I have heard the words that these people have spoken to you. Everything they have said is right.

29 If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commands, so that they and their children will prosper forever.

30 Go and tell them: Return to your tents.

31 But you stand here with Me, and I will tell you every command-the statutes and ordinances-you are to teach them, so that they may follow [them] in the land I am giving them to possess.'

32 "Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or the left.

33 Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.

Deuteronomy 5:22-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 5

In this chapter Moses, after a short preface, De 5:1-5, repeats the law of the decalogue, or ten commands, with some little variation, De 5:6-21, and then reminds the Israelites of the terrible manner in which it was delivered to them, De 5:22,23 which put them upon making a request that Moses might be a mediator between God and them, and hear what the Lord had to say, and report it to them; to which they promised obedience, De 5:24-27 and which being agreeable to the Lord was granted, De 5:28-31, and this laid them under a greater obligation to observe the commands of God, and keep them, De 5:32,33.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ex 20:18-21
• [b]. Lit the sound of your