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Selected Verse: Hebrews 12:21 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Heb 12:21 |
Strong Concordance |
And [2532] so [3779] terrible [5398] was [2258] the sight [5324], that Moses [3475] said [2036], I exceedingly fear [1630] [1510] and [2532] quake [1790]:) |
| |
King James |
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
the sight--the vision of God's majesty.
quake--Greek, "I am in trembling"; "fear" affected his mind: "trembling," his body. Moses is not recorded in Exodus to have used these words. But Paul, by inspiration, supplies (compare Act 20:35; Ti2 3:8) this detail. We read in Deu 9:19, Septuagint, of similar words used by Moses after breaking the two tables, through fear of God's anger at the people's sin in making the golden calves. He doubtless similarly "feared" in hearing the ten commandments spoken by the voice of Jehovah. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said ... - This is not recorded in the account of the giving of the Law in Exodus, and it has been made a question on what authority the apostle made this declaration respecting Moses. In Deu 9:19, Moses indeed says, of himself, after he had come down from the mountain, and had broken the two tables of stone that were in his hand, that he was greatly afraid of the anger of the Lord on account of the sin of the people. "I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you;" and it has been supposed by many that this is the passage to which the apostle here alludes. But it is very evident that was spoken on a different occasion from the one which is referred to in the passage before us. That was after the Law was promulgated, and Moses had descended from the mount; and it was not said in view of the terrors of the scene when the Law was given, but of the apprehension of the wrath of God against the people for their sin in making the golden calf.
I know not how to explain this, except by the supposition that the apostle here refers to some tradition that the scene produced this effect on his mind. In itself it is not improbable that Moses thus trembled with alarm (compare Exo 19:16), nor that the remembrance of it should have been handed down among the numerous traditions which the Jews transmitted from age to age. There must have been many things that occurred in their journey through the wilderness which are not recorded in the Books of Moses. Many of them would be preserved naturally in the memory of the people, and transmitted to their posterity; and though those truths might become intermingled with much that was fabulous, yet it is not irrational to suppose that an inspired writer may have adduced pertinent and true examples from these traditions of what actually occurred. It was one method of preserving "the truth," thus to select such instances of what actually took place from the mass of traditions which were destined to perish, at would be useful in future times. The circumstance here mentioned was greatly suited to increase the impression of the sublimity and fearfulness of the scene. Moses was accustomed to commune with God. He had met him at the "bush," and had been addressed by him face to face, and yet so awful were the scenes at Horeb that even he could not bear it with composure. What may we then suppose to have been the alarm of the body of the people, when the mind of the great leader himself was thus overpowered! |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Make you perfect (καταρτίσαι ὑμᾶς)
The verb is aptly chosen, since the readers are addressed as a body - the flock of Christ. The prayer is for the complete mutual adjustment of all the members of the flock into a perfected whole, fitted to do the perfect will of God. See on Pe1 5:10, and comp. Ti2 3:17, note; Co1 1:10, note; Co2 13:11, note. Ignatius uses the word of the church's being joined (κατηρτισμένοι) in common subjection to the Bishops and the Presbytery (Eph. ii), and of himself as one composed or settled into union (εἰς ἕνωσιν), that is, avoiding division in the church (Philad. viii); and again to the (Smyr. i) "I have perceived that ye are settled or compacted in faith immovable, being, as it were, nailed on the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ in flesh and in spirit."
In every good work (ἐν παντὶ ἀγαθῷ)
A.V. follows T.R. ἔργῳ work. Rend. "in every good thing."
To do his will (εἰς τὸ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ)
To the end that you do, etc.
Working in you (ποιῶν ἐν ἡμῖν)
Rend. "in us." A.V. follows T.R. ὑμῖν you. For "working" rend. "doing." The word plays on ποιῆσαι to do. "Make you perfect to do his will, he doing in us what is well-pleasing in his sight."
That which is well-pleasing in his sight (τὸ αὐάρεστον ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ)
Comp. Eph 5:10. The phrase N.T.o. Ἑυάρεστον usually with the simple dative, as Rom 12:1; Rom 14:8; Eph 5:10; Phi 4:18. Comp. Jo1 3:22. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Even Moses - Though admitted to so near an intercourse with God, who "spake to him as a man speaketh to his friend." At other times he acted as a mediator between God and the people. But while the ten words were pronounced, he stood as one of the hearers, Exo 19:25; Exo 20:19. |
19 For I was afraid [03025] of [06440] the anger [0639] and hot displeasure [02534], wherewith the LORD [03068] was wroth [07107] against you to destroy [08045] you. But the LORD [03068] hearkened [08085] unto me at that time [06471] also.
8 [3739] Now [1161] as [5158] Jannes [2389] and [2532] Jambres [2387] withstood [436] Moses [3475], so [3779] do [436] these [3778] also [2532] resist [436] the truth [225]: men [444] of corrupt [2704] minds [3563], reprobate [96] concerning [4012] the faith [4102].
35 I have shewed [5263] you [5213] all things [3956], how that [3754] so [3779] labouring [2872] ye ought [1163] to support [482] the weak [770], and [5037] to remember [3421] the words [3056] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], how [3754] he [846] said [2036], It is [2076] more [3123] blessed [3107] to give [1325] than [2228] to receive [2983].
16 And it came to pass on the third [07992] day [03117] in the morning [01242], that there were thunders [06963] and lightnings [01300], and a thick [03515] cloud [06051] upon the mount [02022], and the voice [06963] of the trumpet [07782] exceeding [03966] loud [02389]; so that all the people [05971] that was in the camp [04264] trembled [02729].
19 For I was afraid [03025] of [06440] the anger [0639] and hot displeasure [02534], wherewith the LORD [03068] was wroth [07107] against you to destroy [08045] you. But the LORD [03068] hearkened [08085] unto me at that time [06471] also.
22 And [2532] whatsoever [3739] [1437] we ask [154], we receive [2983] of [3844] him [846], because [3754] we keep [5083] his [846] commandments [1785], and [2532] do [4160] those things that are pleasing [701] in his [846] sight [1799].
18 But [1161] I have [568] all [3956], and [2532] abound [4052]: I am full [4137], having received [1209] of [3844] Epaphroditus [1891] the things which were sent from [3844] you [5216], an odour [3744] of a sweet smell [2175], a sacrifice [2378] acceptable [1184], wellpleasing [2101] to God [2316].
10 Proving [1381] what [5101] is [2076] acceptable [2101] unto the Lord [2962].
8 For [1063] whether [1437] [5037] we live [2198], we live [2198] unto the Lord [2962]; and whether [1437] [5037] we die [599], we die [599] unto the Lord [2962]: whether [1437] [5037] we live [2198] therefore [3767], or [1437] [5037] die [599], we are [2070] the Lord's [2962].
1 I beseech [3870] you [5209] therefore [3767], brethren [80], by [1223] the mercies [3628] of God [2316], that ye present [3936] your [5216] bodies [4983] a living [2198] sacrifice [2378], holy [40], acceptable [2101] unto God [2316], which is your [5216] reasonable [3050] service [2999].
10 Proving [1381] what [5101] is [2076] acceptable [2101] unto the Lord [2962].
11 Finally [3063], brethren [80], farewell [5463]. Be perfect [2675], be of good comfort [3870], be of one [846] mind [5426], live in peace [1514]; and [2532] the God [2316] of love [26] and [2532] peace [1515] shall be [2071] with [3326] you [5216].
10 Now [1161] I beseech [3870] you [5209], brethren [80], by [1223] the name [3686] of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], that [2443] ye [3004] all [3956] speak [3004] the same thing [846], and [2532] that there be [5600] no [3361] divisions [4978] among [1722] you [5213]; but [1161] that ye be [5600] perfectly joined together [2675] in [1722] the same [846] mind [3563] and [2532] in [1722] the same [846] judgment [1106].
17 That [2443] the man [444] of God [2316] may be [5600] perfect [739], throughly furnished [1822] unto [4314] all [3956] good [18] works [2041].
10 But [1161] the God [2316] of all [3956] grace [5485], who [3588] hath called [2564] us [2248] unto [1519] his [846] eternal [166] glory [1391] by [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], after that ye have suffered [3958] a while [3641], [846] make [2675] you [5209] perfect [2675], stablish [4741], strengthen [4599], settle [2311] you.
19 And they said [0559] unto Moses [04872], Speak [01696] thou with us, and we will hear [08085]: but let not God [0430] speak [01696] with us, lest we die [04191].
25 So Moses [04872] went down [03381] unto the people [05971], and spake [0559] unto them.