Exodus 20:21
ContextNET © | The people kept 1 their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness 2 where God was. 3 |
NIV © | The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. |
NASB © | So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was. |
NLT © | As the people stood in the distance, Moses entered into the deep darkness where God was. |
MSG © | The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was. |
BBE © | And the people kept their places far off, but Moses went near to the dark cloud where God was. |
NRSV © | Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. |
NKJV © | So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was . |
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NET © [draft] ITL | |
NET © | The people kept 1 their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness 2 where God was. 3 |
NET © Notes |
1 tn Heb “and they stood”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 2 sn The word עֲרָפֶל (’arafel) is used in poetry in Ps 18:9 and 1 Kgs 8:12; and it is used in Deut 4:11, 5:22 [19]. 3 sn It will not be hard to expound the passage on the Ten Commandments once their place in scripture has been determined. They, for the most part, are reiterated in the NT, in one way or another, usually with a much higher standard that requires attention to the spirit of the laws. Thus, these laws reveal God’s standard of righteousness by revealing sin. No wonder the Israelites were afraid when they saw the manifestation of God and heard his laws. When the whole covenant is considered, preamble and all, then it becomes clear that the motivation for obeying the commands is the person and the work of the covenant God – the one who redeemed his people. Obedience then becomes a response of devotion and adoration to the Redeemer who set them free. It becomes loyal service, not enslavement to laws. The point could be worded this way: God requires that his covenant people, whom he has redeemed, and to whom he has revealed himself, give their absolute allegiance and obedience to him. This means they will worship and serve him and safeguard the well-being of each other. |