Deuteronomy 4:33
Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
Original Language Analysis
שָׁמַ֥עְתָּ
as thou hast heard
H8085
שָׁמַ֥עְתָּ
as thou hast heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 11
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
עָם֩
Did ever people
H5971
עָם֩
Did ever people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 11
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֱלֹהִ֜ים
of God
H430
אֱלֹהִ֜ים
of God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
4 of 11
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
מְדַבֵּ֧ר
speaking out
H1696
מְדַבֵּ֧ר
speaking out
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
5 of 11
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מִתּוֹךְ
of the midst
H8432
מִתּוֹךְ
of the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
6 of 11
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר
H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 11
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Deuteronomy 5:24And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.Judges 6:22And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.Exodus 33:20And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.Exodus 24:11And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.Deuteronomy 5:26For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Historical Context
Moses emphasizes the extraordinary nature of Israel hearing God's voice from fire at Mount Horeb and surviving. Ancient Near Eastern peoples typically believed that seeing deity meant death. Israel's experience at Sinai, occurring approximately 40 years before this speech, was thus presented as unique proof of their special relationship with the true God.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the primacy of hearing God's word over seeing images shape your understanding of how God reveals Himself today?
- What does Israel's survival at Sinai teach about the tension between God's holiness and His mercy toward sinners?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
Moses poses the decisive question: hashama am qol Elohim medabber mitokh ha'esh (הֲשָׁמַע עָם קוֹל אֱלֹהִים מְדַבֵּר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ, 'has any people heard the voice of God speaking from fire'). The combination of divine voice and consuming fire—and survival—constitutes an unprecedented revelation. Ancient peoples universally believed that encountering deity meant death; Israel heard and lived (vayechi, וַיֶּחִי).
The emphasis on hearing (shama) is significant. At Sinai, Israel received auditory revelation—the spoken word—not visual representation. This establishes the primacy of the word in biblical religion: God is known through what He says, not through images of what He looks like. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), and the incarnate Word made God known (John 1:18).
The survival element underscores grace. A holy God in consuming fire should destroy sinful people; that Israel lived testifies not to their worthiness but to God's merciful condescension. Sinai demonstrates both God's terrifying transcendence and His gracious accessibility—He is the high and lofty One who dwells with the contrite (Isaiah 57:15). This tension reaches resolution in Christ, through whom we approach God's throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).