Deuteronomy 4:11
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַתִּקְרְב֥וּן
And ye came near
H7126
וַתִּקְרְב֥וּן
And ye came near
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
1 of 13
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
וַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּן
and stood
H5975
וַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּן
and stood
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
2 of 13
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
תַּ֣חַת
H8478
תַּ֣חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
3 of 13
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
וְהָהָ֞ר
and the mountain
H2022
וְהָהָ֞ר
and the mountain
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
4 of 13
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וְהָהָ֞ר
and the mountain
H2022
וְהָהָ֞ר
and the mountain
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
5 of 13
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
8 of 13
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
לֵ֣ב
unto the midst
H3820
לֵ֣ב
unto the midst
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
9 of 13
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
of heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
10 of 13
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
חֹ֖שֶׁךְ
and thick darkness
H2822
חֹ֖שֶׁךְ
and thick darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
11 of 13
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
Historical Context
Describes the Sinai theophany circa 1446 BC (Exodus 19:16-20, 24:15-18). The mountain was enveloped in smoke, fire, earthquake, and trumpet blasts. God descended on Sinai in fire while the people stood at a distance, trembling. Moses alone ascended into the thick darkness to receive the law on stone tablets. This terrifying display demonstrated that approaching the holy God requires mediation—anticipating Christ's superior mediation (Hebrews 12:18-24).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Sinai theophany reveal both God's desire to communicate with humanity and His transcendent holiness?
- What does the contrast between Sinai's terror and Mount Zion's grace (Hebrews 12:18-24) teach about approaching God through Christ?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The Sinai theophany—'mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven'—reveals God's transcendent holiness and unapproachable glory. The triad 'darkness, clouds, and thick darkness' emphasizes divine mystery and hiddenness even in revelation. God reveals yet remains incomprehensible, known yet unknowable in fullness. This tension underlies Reformed epistemology—we know God truly through special revelation but not exhaustively. The fire signifies God's consuming holiness (Hebrews 12:29); the darkness, His inscrutability (1 Kings 8:12). This awesome display should have produced lasting fear and obedience.