Deuteronomy 5:23-33

23 When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me.

24 And you said, “The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.

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 what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?

27 Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”

28 The LORD heard you when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good.

29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

30 “Go, tell them to return to their tents.

31 But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.”

32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.

33 Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Deuteronomy 5:23-33 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 3:16
• 2. Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 8:5; Deuteronomy 11:2; Isaiah 53:4
• 3. S Deuteronomy 3:24
• 4. Exodus 19:19
• 5. Exodus 20:18-19; Deuteronomy 18:16; Hebrews 12:19
• 6. S Exodus 33:20; Deuteronomy 4:33; Judges 6:22-23; Judges 13:22; Isaiah 6:5
• 7. S Exodus 19:8
• 8. S Exodus 24:7
• 9. Deuteronomy 18:17
• 10. Psalms 81:8,13
• 11. Joshua 22:5; Psalms 78:7; Deuteronomy 11:1; Isaiah 48:18
• 12. ver 33; S Deuteronomy 4:1,40; Deuteronomy 12:25; Deuteronomy 22:7
• 13. Exodus 24:12
• 14. S Deuteronomy 4:29; Deuteronomy 10:12
• 15. Deuteronomy 17:11,20; Deuteronomy 28:14; Joshua 1:7; Joshua 23:6; 1 Kings 15:5; 2 Kings 22:2; Proverbs 4:27
• 16. Isaiah 3:10; Jeremiah 7:23; Jeremiah 38:20; S Luke 1:6
• 17. S ver 29; Deuteronomy 4:40