Hebräer 12:20

20 (denn sie konnten nicht ertragen, was geboten wurde: "Und wenn ein Tier den Berg berührt, soll es gesteinigt werden."

Hebräer 12:20 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 12:20

For they could not endure that which was commanded
In the law; not that they disliked and despised the law, as unregenerate men do; but they could not endure it, or bear it, as a yoke, it being a yoke of bondage; nor as a covenant of works, it requiring perfect obedience, but giving no strength to perform; and as it showed them their sins, but did not direct them to a Saviour; as it was an accusing, cursing, and condemning law; and, as a fiery one, revealing wrath, and filling the conscience with it; unless this should have any respect to the following edict, more particularly:

and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned or
thrust through with a dart;
and, if a beast, much more a man: and, how easily, through inadvertence, might this be done? and how terrible was the punishment? nothing less than death, by stoning, or being shot: and this they could not bear to hear, or think of: the last clause, "or thrust through with a dart", is wanting in the Alexandrian and Beza's Claromontane copies, in the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; and yet is necessary to be retained, being in the original text, in ( Exodus 19:12 Exodus 19:13 ) .

Hebräer 12:20 In-Context

18 Denn ihr seid nicht gekommen zu dem Berge , der betastet werden konnte, und zu dem entzündeten Feuer, und dem Dunkel und der Finsternis und dem Sturm,
19 und dem Posaunenschall, und der Stimme der Worte, deren Hörer baten, daß das Wort nicht mehr an sie gerichtet würde,
20 (denn sie konnten nicht ertragen, was geboten wurde: "Und wenn ein Tier den Berg berührt, soll es gesteinigt werden."
21 Und so furchtbar war die Erscheinung, daß Moses sagte: "Ich bin voll Furcht und Zittern"),
22 sondern ihr seid gekommen zum Berge Zion und zur Stadt des lebendigen Gottes, dem himmlischen Jerusalem; und zu Myriaden von Engeln,
The Elberfelder Bible is in the public domain.