Exodus 20:18

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator describes the Israelites at Sinai immediately after the tenth commandment, observing divine manifestations before they request Moses to mediate future communication.

The words — רֹאִים (ro'im) translates to "[were] seeing," and הַקּוֹלֹת (haqolot) means "the thunder claps."

The thread — The thunder and lightning occur during Sinai's initial preparation in Exodus 19:16, while the theme of God's inescapable presence appears in Psalms 139:7 and Jeremiah 23:23.

Why it lands — The text records the people's physical fear and retreat, which directly triggers their request for mediated speech in Exodus 20:19.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all הָעָם֩ha./'Amthe/ people רֹאִ֨יםro.'Im[were] seeing אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַקּוֹלֹ֜תha./ko.Lotthe/ thunder claps וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַלַּפִּידִ֗םha./la.pi.Dimthe/ lightning וְאֵת֙ve./'Etand/ <obj.>ק֣וֹלKol[the] sound of הַשֹּׁפָ֔רha./sho.Farthe/ ram's horn וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הָהָ֖רha./Harthe/ mountain עָשֵׁ֑ן'a.Shensmoking וַיַּ֤רְאva/i.Yar'and/ it saw הָעָם֙ha./'Amthe/ people וַיָּנֻ֔עוּva/i.ya.Nu.'uand/ they trembled וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּva/i.ya.'am.Duand/ they stood מֵֽרָחֹֽק׃Me./ra.Chokfrom/ a distance

King James Version

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

Cross-references

Exodus 19:16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
Psalms 139:7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
Jeremiah 23:23 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?”
Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;