Deuteronomy 4:12-15

4:12 Then the Lord spoke to you from the middle of the fire; you heard speech but you could not see anything – only a voice was heard. ¹  4:13 And he revealed to you the covenant ²  he has commanded you to keep, the ten commandments, ³  writing them on two stone tablets. 4:14 Moreover, at that same time the Lord commanded me to teach you statutes and ordinances for you to keep in the land which you are about to enter and possess. ⁴ 

The Nature of Israel’s God

4:15 Be very careful, ⁵  then, because you saw no form at the time the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the middle of the fire.

Deuteronomy 4:36

4:36 From heaven he spoke to you in order to teach you, and on earth he showed you his great fire from which you also heard his words. ⁶ 

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¹ tn The words “was heard” are supplied in the translation to avoid the impression that the voice was seen.

² sn This is the first occurrence of the word בְּרִית (bÿrit, “covenant”) in the Book of Deuteronomy but it appears commonly hereafter (4:23, 31; 5:2, 3; 7:9, 12; 8:18; 9:9, 10, 11, 15; 10:2, 4, 5, 8; 17:2; 29:1, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 25; 31:9, 16, 20, 25, 26; 33:9). Etymologically, it derives from the notion of linking or yoking together. See M. Weinfeld, TDOT 2:255.

³ tn Heb “the ten words.”

⁴ tn Heb “to which you are crossing over to possess it.”

⁵ tn Heb “give great care to your souls.”

⁶ tn Heb “and his words you heard from the midst of the fire.”