Exodus 31:18
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן
And he gave
H5414
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן
And he gave
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 16
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙
when he had made an end
H3615
כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙
when he had made an end
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
4 of 16
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
לְדַבֵּ֤ר
of communing
H1696
לְדַבֵּ֤ר
of communing
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
5 of 16
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אִתּוֹ֙
H854
אִתּוֹ֙
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
בְּהַ֣ר
with him upon mount
H2022
בְּהַ֣ר
with him upon mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
7 of 16
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
לֻחֹ֣ת
tables
H3871
לֻחֹ֣ת
tables
Strong's:
H3871
Word #:
10 of 16
probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal
לֻחֹ֣ת
tables
H3871
לֻחֹ֣ת
tables
Strong's:
H3871
Word #:
12 of 16
probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal
כְּתֻבִ֖ים
written
H3789
כְּתֻבִ֖ים
written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
14 of 16
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 4:13And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.Deuteronomy 5:22These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.Exodus 24:12And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.Exodus 8:19Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.2 Corinthians 3:3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.Luke 11:20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Historical Context
These first tablets would be broken when Moses saw Israel's idolatry (Exodus 32:19), requiring a second set. The contrast between stone tablets (law) and Spirit-written hearts (New Covenant) appears in 2 Corinthians 3.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ fulfill the law 'written in stone'?
- What is the difference between law on stone tablets and law written on hearts by the Spirit?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God gives Moses two stone tablets 'written with the finger of God'—divine authorship, permanent record. These tablets containing the ten commandments testify to God's covenant, His moral law, His character. Stone suggests permanence; God's law is unchanging. The finger of God indicates direct divine action, as at creation. Christ fulfills this law perfectly, becoming the living Word that the stone tablets foreshadowed (2 Corinthians 3:3).