Deuteronomy 4:10-12
New English Translation
10 You[a] stood before the Lord your God at Horeb and he[b] said to me, “Assemble the people before me so that I can tell them my commands.[c] Then they will learn to revere me all the days they live in the land, and they will instruct their children.” 11 You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain, a mountain ablaze to the sky above it[d] and yet dark with a thick cloud.[e] 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.[f]
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- Deuteronomy 4:10 tn The text begins with “(the) day (in) which.” In the Hebrew text v. 10 is subordinate to v. 11, but for stylistic reasons the translation treats v. 10 as an independent clause, necessitating the omission of the subordinating temporal phrase at the beginning of the verse.
- Deuteronomy 4:10 tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 4:3.
- Deuteronomy 4:10 tn Heb “my words.” See v. 13; in Hebrew the “ten commandments” are the “ten words.”
- Deuteronomy 4:11 tn Heb “a mountain burning with fire as far as the heart of the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
- Deuteronomy 4:11 tn Heb “darkness, cloud, and heavy cloud.”
- Deuteronomy 4:12 tn The words “was heard” are supplied in the translation to avoid the impression that the voice was seen.
Deuteronomy 4:10-12
New King James Version
10 especially concerning (A)the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’
11 “Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 (B)And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no [a]form; (C)you only heard a voice.
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- Deuteronomy 4:12 similitude
Deuteronomy 4:10-12
King James Version
10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.
12 And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
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Deuteronomy 4:10-12
English Standard Version
10 how on (A)the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, (B)‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, (C)so that they may learn to fear (D)me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’ 11 And (E)you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while (F)the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. 12 Then (G)the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, (H)but saw no form; (I)there was only a voice.
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