Deuteronomy 5:22
These 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.
Deuteronomy 5:22 · King James Version
Meaning
When the verse states, "These 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," it is referring to a significant moment in the Bible when God delivered the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. The scene described is from the book of Deuteronomy, where Moses recounts the event that took place at Mount Sinai. The imagery of fire, cloud, and darkness symbolizes the power and majesty of God's presence. The great voice represents God's authority and command over the people. The fact that the commandments were written on stone tablets signifies their permanence and importance in guiding the Israelites' behavior and relationship with God. By delivering the commandments in such a dramatic and unforgettable way, God emphasized the seriousness of obeying His laws and the consequences of disobedience.
Theological Overview
Deuteronomy 5:22 recounts the moment when God delivered the Ten Commandments to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. This passage emphasizes the power and authority of the words spoken by the Lord, as they were communicated in the midst of fire, cloud, and thick darkness with a great voice. The imagery of fire and darkness symbolizes the divine presence and holiness of God. The fact that God added no more to the commandments highlights their completeness and finality. The tablets of stone on which the commandments were written symbolize their permanence and importance. By delivering the commandments to Moses, God established a covenant with His people, outlining the standards by which they were to live. This verse underscores the significance of the commandments in shaping the moral and spiritual life of the Israelites, as well as their enduring relevance for believers today.
Deuteronomy 5:22 in other translations
American Standard Version
These words Jehovah 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 upon two tables of stone, and gave them unto me.
World English Bible
Yahweh spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me.
Douay-Rheims
These words the Lord spoke to all the multitude of you in the mountain, out of the midst of the fire and the cloud, and the darkness, with a loud voice, adding nothing more: and he wrote them in two tables of stone, which he delivered unto me.
Geneva Bible (1599)
These wordes the Lord spake vnto all your multitude in the mount out of the mids of the fire, the cloude and the darkenes, with a great voyce, and added no more thereto: and wrote them vpon two tables of stone, and deliuered them vnto me.