Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Hebrews 12:18 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Heb 12:18 |
Strong Concordance |
For [1063] ye are [4334] not [3756] come [4334] unto the mount [3735] that might be touched [5584], and [2532] that burned [2545] with fire [4442], nor [2532] unto blackness [1105], and [2532] darkness [4655], and [2532] tempest [2366], |
| |
King James |
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, |
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] |
For--The fact that we are not under the law, but under a higher, and that the last dispensation, the Gospel, with its glorious privileges, is the reason why especially the Hebrew Christians should "look diligently," &c. (Heb 12:15-16).
are not come--Greek, "have not come near to." Alluding to Deu 4:11, "Ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire . . . with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness." "In your coming near unto God, it has not been to," &c.
the mount--The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate omit "the mount." But still, "the mount" must be supplied from Heb 12:22.
that might be touched--palpable and material. Not that any save Moses was allowed to touch it (Exo 19:12-13). The Hebrews drew near to the material Mount Sinai with material bodies; we, to the spiritual mount in the spirit. The "darkness" was that formed by the clouds hanging round the mount; the "tempest" accompanied the thunder. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For ye are not come - To enforce the considerations already urged, the apostle introduces this sublime comparison between the old and new dispensations; Heb 12:18-24. The object, in accordance with the principal scope of the Epistle, is, to guard them against apostasy. To do this, he shows that under the new dispensation there was much more to hind them to fidelity, and to make apostasy dangerous, than there was under the old. The main point of the comparison is, that under the Jewish dispensation, everything was adapted to awe the mind, and to restrain by the exhibition of grandeur and of power; but that under the Christian dispensation, while there was as much that was sublime, there was much more that was adapted to win and hold the affections. There were revelations of higher truths. There were more affecting motives to lead to obedience. There was that of which the former was but the type and emblem. There was the clear revelation of the glories of heaven, and of the blessed society there, all adapted to prompt to the earnest desire that they might be our own. The considerations presented in this passage constitute the climax of the argument so beautifully pursued through this Epistle, showing that the Christian system was far superior in every respect to the Jewish. In presenting this closing argument, the apostle first refers to some of the circumstances attending the former dispensation which were designed to keep the people of God from apostasy, and then the considerations of superior weight existing under the Christian economy.
The mount that might be touched - Mount Sinai. The meaning here is, that "that mountain was palpable, material, touchable" - in contradistinction from the Mount Zion to which the church had now come, which is above the reach of the external senses; Heb 12:22. The apostle does not mean that it was permitted to the Israelites to touch Mount Sinai - for this was strictly forbidden, Exo 19:12; but he evidently alludes to that prohibition, and means to say that a command forbidding them to "touch" the mountain, implied that it was a material or palpable object. The sense of the passage is, that every circumstance that occurred there was suited to fill the soul with terror. Everything accompanying the giving of the Law, the setting of bounds around the mountain which they might not pass, and the darkness and tempest on the mountain itself, was adopted to overawe the soul. The phrase "the touchable mountain" - if such a phrase is proper - would express the meaning of the apostle here. The "Mount Zion" to which the church now has come, is of a different character. It is not thus visible and palpable. It is not enveloped in smoke and flame, and the thunders of the Almighty do not roll and re-echo among its lofty peaks as at Horeb; yet it presents "stronger" motives to perseverance in the service of God.
And that burned with fire - Exo 19:18; compare Deu 4:11; Deu 33:2.
Nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest - see Exo 19:16. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Following this allusion to Esau, and perhaps suggested by it, is a passage setting forth the privileges of the Christian birthright and of Christian citizenship in contrast with those under the old covenant.
The mount that might be touched and that burned with fire (ψηλαφωμένῳ καὶ κεκαυμένῳ πυρὶ)
Ὄρει mount is omitted by the best texts, but should be understood. Ψηλαφᾶν is rare in N.T. and lxx; fairly frequent in Class. Radically, it is akin to ψᾶν, to rub, wipe; hence feeling on the surface, as Gen 27:12, Gen 27:21, Gen 27:22, lxx: a touch which communicates only a superficial effect. It need not imply contact with an object at all, but simply the movement of the hands feeling after something. Hence often of the groping of the blind, as Deu 28:29; Isa 59:10; Job 5:14. Appropriate here as indicating mere superficial contact. The present participle that is being touched, means simply that the mountain was something material and tangible. The A.V. which might be touched, although not literally correct, conveys the true sense.
That burned with fire (κεκαυμένῳ πυρὶ)
See Exo 19:18; Deu 4:11; Deu 5:4; Deu 9:15. The participle is passive, set on fire; kindled with fire: not attributive of πυρὶ, enkindled fire.
Blackness, darkness, tempest (γνόφῳ, ζόφῳ, θυέλλῃ)
Γνόφος (N.T.o) and ζόφος (elsewhere only 2 Peter and Jude) belong to the same family. As distinguished from σκότος darkness that conceals, as opposed to light, these words signify half-darkness, gloom, nebulousness; as the darkness of evening or the gathering gloom of death. It is a darkness which does not entirely conceal color. Thus δνόφος, the earlier and poetic form of γνόφος, is used by Homer of water which appears dark against the underlying rock, or is tinged by mire. Γνόφος and σκότος appear together, Exo 10:22; Exo 14:20; Deu 4:11; Deu 5:22. Γνόφος alone, Exo 20:21. Ζόφος only in the later version of Symmachus. See on Joh 1:5. Θύελλα N.T.o , from θύειν to boil or foam. It is a brief, violent, sudden, destructive blast, sometimes working upward and carrying objects into the upper air; hence found with ἀείρειν to lift and ἀναρπάζειν to snatch up (see Hom. Od. xx. 63). It may also come from above and dash down to the ground (Hom. Il. xii. 253). Sometimes it indicates the mere force of the wind, as ἀνέμοιο θύελλα (Hom. Od. xii. 409; Il. vi. 346). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| For - A strong reason this why they ought the more to regard the whole exhortation drawn from the priesthood of Christ: because both salvation and vengeance are now nearer at hand. Ye are not come to the mountain that could be touched - That was of an earthy, material nature. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched - I believe the words ψηλαφωμενῳ ορει should be translated to a palpable or material mountain; for that it was not a mountain that on this occasion might be touched, the history, Exo 19:12, Exo 19:13, shows; and the apostle himself, in Heb 12:20, confirms. It is called here a palpable or material mount, to distinguish it from that spiritual mount Sion, of which the apostle is speaking. Some contend that it should be translated tacto de caelo, thunder-struck; this sense would agree well enough with the scope of the place. The apostle's design is to show that the dispensation of the law engendered terror; that it was most awful and exclusive; that it belonged only to the Jewish people; and that, even to them, it was so terrible that they could not endure that which was commanded, and entreated that God would not communicate with them in his own person, but by the ministry of Moses: and even to Moses, who held the highest intimacy with Jehovah, the revealed glories, the burning fire, the blackness, the darkness, the tempest, the loud-sounding trumpet, and the voice of words, were so terrible that he said, I exceedingly fear and tremble.
These were the things which were exhibited on that material mountain; but the Gospel dispensation is one grand, copious, and interesting display of the infinite love of God. It is all encouragement; breathes nothing but mercy; is not an exclusive system; embraces the whole human race; has Jesus, the sinner's friend, for its mediator; is ratified by his blood; and is suited, most gloriously suited, to all the wants and wishes of every soul of man. |
12 And thou shalt set bounds [01379] unto the people [05971] round about [05439], saying [0559], Take heed [08104] to yourselves, that ye go not up [05927] into the mount [02022], or touch [05060] the border [07097] of it: whosoever toucheth [05060] the mount [02022] shall be surely [04191] put to death [04191]:
13 There shall not an hand [03027] touch [05060] it, but he shall surely [05619] be stoned [05619], or [0176] shot [03384] through [03384]; whether it be beast [0929] or [0518] man [0376], it shall not live [02421]: when the trumpet [03104] soundeth long [04900], they shall come up [05927] to the mount [02022].
22 But [235] ye are come [4334] unto mount [3735] Sion [4622], and [2532] unto the city [4172] of the living [2198] God [2316], the heavenly [2032] Jerusalem [2419], and [2532] to an innumerable company [3461] of angels [32],
11 And ye came near [07126] and stood [05975] under the mountain [02022]; and the mountain [02022] burned [01197] with fire [0784] unto the midst [03820] of heaven [08064], with darkness [06205], clouds [06051], and thick darkness [02822].
15 Looking diligently [1983] lest [3361] any man [5100] fail [5302] of [575] the grace [5485] of God [2316]; lest [3361] any [5100] root [4491] of bitterness [4088] springing [5453] up [507] trouble [1776] you, and [2532] thereby [1223] [5026] many [4183] be defiled [3392];
16 Lest [3361] there be any [5100] fornicator [4205], or [2228] profane person [952], as [5613] Esau [2269], who [3739] for [473] one [3391] morsel of meat [1035] sold [591] his [846] birthright [4415].
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].
2 And he said [0559], The LORD [03068] came [0935] from Sinai [05514], and rose up [02224] from Seir [08165] unto them; he shined forth [03313] from mount [02022] Paran [06290], and he came [0857] with ten thousands [07233] of saints [06944]: from his right hand [03225] went a fiery [0799] [0784] law [01881] for them.
11 And ye came near [07126] and stood [05975] under the mountain [02022]; and the mountain [02022] burned [01197] with fire [0784] unto the midst [03820] of heaven [08064], with darkness [06205], clouds [06051], and thick darkness [02822].
18 And mount [02022] Sinai [05514] was altogether on a smoke [06225], because [06440] [0834] the LORD [03068] descended [03381] upon it in fire [0784]: and the smoke [06227] thereof ascended [05927] as the smoke [06227] of a furnace [03536], and the whole mount [02022] quaked [02729] greatly [03966].
12 And thou shalt set bounds [01379] unto the people [05971] round about [05439], saying [0559], Take heed [08104] to yourselves, that ye go not up [05927] into the mount [02022], or touch [05060] the border [07097] of it: whosoever toucheth [05060] the mount [02022] shall be surely [04191] put to death [04191]:
22 But [235] ye are come [4334] unto mount [3735] Sion [4622], and [2532] unto the city [4172] of the living [2198] God [2316], the heavenly [2032] Jerusalem [2419], and [2532] to an innumerable company [3461] of angels [32],
18 For [1063] ye are [4334] not [3756] come [4334] unto the mount [3735] that might be touched [5584], and [2532] that burned [2545] with fire [4442], nor [2532] unto blackness [1105], and [2532] darkness [4655], and [2532] tempest [2366],
19 And [2532] the sound [2279] of a trumpet [4536], and [2532] the voice [5456] of words [4487]; which [3739] voice they that heard [191] intreated [3868] that the word [3056] should [4369] not [3361] be spoken [4369] to them [846] any more [3361]:
20 (For [1063] they could [5342] not [3756] endure [5342] that which was commanded [1291], And if so much as [2579] a beast [2342] touch [2345] the mountain [3735], it shall be stoned [3036], or [2228] thrust through [2700] with a dart [1002]:
21 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]:)
22 But [235] ye are come [4334] unto mount [3735] Sion [4622], and [2532] unto the city [4172] of the living [2198] God [2316], the heavenly [2032] Jerusalem [2419], and [2532] to an innumerable company [3461] of angels [32],
23 To the general assembly [3831] and [2532] church [1577] of the firstborn [4416], which are written [583] in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] to God [2316] the Judge [2923] of all [3956], and [2532] to the spirits [4151] of just men [1342] made perfect [5048],
24 And [2532] to Jesus [2424] the mediator [3316] of the new [3501] covenant [1242], and [2532] to the blood [129] of sprinkling [4473], that speaketh [2980] better things [2909] than [3844] that of Abel [6].
5 And [2532] the light [5457] shineth [5316] in [1722] darkness [4653]; and [2532] the darkness [4653] comprehended [2638] it [846] not [3756].
21 And the people [05971] stood [05975] afar off [07350], and Moses [04872] drew near [05066] unto the thick darkness [06205] where God [0430] was.
22 These words [01697] the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto all your assembly [06951] in the mount [02022] out of the midst [08432] of the fire [0784], of the cloud [06051], and of the thick darkness [06205], with a great [01419] voice [06963]: and he added no more [03254]. And he wrote [03789] them in two [08147] tables [03871] of stone [068], and delivered [05414] them unto me.
11 And ye came near [07126] and stood [05975] under the mountain [02022]; and the mountain [02022] burned [01197] with fire [0784] unto the midst [03820] of heaven [08064], with darkness [06205], clouds [06051], and thick darkness [02822].
20 And it came [0935] between the camp [04264] of the Egyptians [04714] and the camp [04264] of Israel [03478]; and it was a cloud [06051] and darkness [02822] to them, but it gave light [0215] by night [03915] to these: so that the one came not near [07126] the other [02088] all the night [03915].
22 And Moses [04872] stretched forth [05186] his hand [03027] toward heaven [08064]; and there was a thick [0653] darkness [02822] in all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714] three [07969] days [03117]:
15 So I turned [06437] and came down [03381] from the mount [02022], and the mount [02022] burned [01197] with fire [0784]: and the two [08147] tables [03871] of the covenant [01285] were in my two [08147] hands [03027].
4 The LORD [03068] talked [01696] with you face [06440] to face [06440] in the mount [02022] out of the midst [08432] of the fire [0784],
11 And ye came near [07126] and stood [05975] under the mountain [02022]; and the mountain [02022] burned [01197] with fire [0784] unto the midst [03820] of heaven [08064], with darkness [06205], clouds [06051], and thick darkness [02822].
18 And mount [02022] Sinai [05514] was altogether on a smoke [06225], because [06440] [0834] the LORD [03068] descended [03381] upon it in fire [0784]: and the smoke [06227] thereof ascended [05927] as the smoke [06227] of a furnace [03536], and the whole mount [02022] quaked [02729] greatly [03966].
14 They meet [06298] with darkness [02822] in the daytime [03119], and grope [04959] in the noonday [06672] as in the night [03915].
10 We grope [01659] for the wall [07023] like the blind [05787], and we grope [01659] as if we had no eyes [05869]: we stumble [03782] at noonday [06672] as in the night [05399]; we are in desolate [0820] places as dead [04191] men.
29 And thou shalt grope [04959] at noonday [06672], as the blind [05787] gropeth [04959] in darkness [0653], and thou shalt not prosper [06743] in thy ways [01870]: and thou shalt be only oppressed [06231] and spoiled [01497] evermore [03117], and no man shall save [03467] thee.
22 And Jacob [03290] went near [05066] unto Isaac [03327] his father [01]; and he felt [04959] him, and said [0559], The voice [06963] is Jacob's [03290] voice [06963], but the hands [03027] are the hands [03027] of Esau [06215].
21 And Isaac [03327] said [0559] unto Jacob [03290], Come near [05066], I pray thee, that I may feel [04184] thee, my son [01121], whether thou be my very [02088] son [01121] Esau [06215] or not.
12 My father [01] peradventure will feel [04959] me, and I shall seem [05869] to him as a deceiver [08591]; and I shall bring [0935] a curse [07045] upon me, and not a blessing [01293].
20 (For [1063] they could [5342] not [3756] endure [5342] that which was commanded [1291], And if so much as [2579] a beast [2342] touch [2345] the mountain [3735], it shall be stoned [3036], or [2228] thrust through [2700] with a dart [1002]:
13 There shall not an hand [03027] touch [05060] it, but he shall surely [05619] be stoned [05619], or [0176] shot [03384] through [03384]; whether it be beast [0929] or [0518] man [0376], it shall not live [02421]: when the trumpet [03104] soundeth long [04900], they shall come up [05927] to the mount [02022].
12 And thou shalt set bounds [01379] unto the people [05971] round about [05439], saying [0559], Take heed [08104] to yourselves, that ye go not up [05927] into the mount [02022], or touch [05060] the border [07097] of it: whosoever toucheth [05060] the mount [02022] shall be surely [04191] put to death [04191]: