Deuteronomy 5:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When you heard the voice from the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your elders came to me.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֗י כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶ֤ם אֶת־הַקּוֹל֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ וְהָהָ֖ר בֹּעֵ֣ר בָּאֵ֑שׁ וַתִּקְרְב֣וּן אֵלַ֔י כָּל־רָאשֵׁ֥י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֖ם וְזִקְנֵיכֶֽם

Transliteration

And-wayəhî when-hearing-of-you ʾet-the-qôl from-midst-of the-ḥōšek and-the-hār bōʿēr in-the-ʾēš and-wattiqrəbûn to-me all-heads-of tribes-of-you and-elders-of-you

Grammar Details

• *wayəhî*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect 3ms - and it happened
• *qôl*: common noun, masculine singular - voice
• *ḥōšek*: common noun, masculine singular - darkness
• *hār*: common noun, masculine singular - mountain
• *bōʿēr*: Qal participle masculine singular - burning
• *ʾēš*: common noun, feminine singular - fire
• *wattiqrəbûn*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect 2mp + paragogic nun - and you approached

Word Meanings

• *wayəhî*: and it happened/and it came to pass
• *qôl*: voice/sound/noise
• *ḥōšek*: darkness/obscurity
• *bōʿēr*: burning/being ablaze
• *wattiqrəbûn*: and you approached/and you came near/and you drew near

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elrs;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And it happened, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain burned with fire,) that you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when ye heard{H8085} the voice{H6963} out of the midst{H8432} of the darkness,{H2822} while the mountain{H2022} was burning{H1197} with fire,{H784} that ye came near{H7126} unto me, even all the heads{H7218} of your tribes,{H7626} and your elders;{H2205}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when ye heard{H8085}{(H8800)} the voice{H6963} out of the midst{H8432} of the darkness{H2822},(for the mountain{H2022} did burn{H1197}{(H8802)} with fire{H784},) that ye came near{H7126}{(H8799)} unto me, even all the heads{H7218} of your tribes{H7626}, and your elders{H2205};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But as soone as ye herde the voyce out off the darcknesse and sawe the hill burne with fyre, ye came vnto me all the heedes of youre tribes and youre elders:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But whan ye herde the voyce out of the darknes, and sawe the mount burne wt fyre, ye came vnto me all ye rulers amonge youre trybes, and youre Elders

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when ye heard the voyce out of the middes of the darkenes, (for the mountaine did burne with fire) then ye came to me, all the chiefe of your tribes, and your Elders:

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And it came to passe, that when ye hearde the voyce out of the middes of the darkenesse (for the mountayne dyd burne with fire) then ye came vnto me, with the captaynes of your tribes, and your elders,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, [even] all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And it cometh to pass as ye hear the voice out of the midst of the darkness, and of the mountain burning with fire, that ye come near unto me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And after hearing the voice which came out of the dark while the mountain was burning with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your chiefs came to me,

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me.

Referenced Verses

• Exod 20:18-19 : 18 When all the people saw the thunder and the lightning flashes, and heard the sound of the trumpet, and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear and stood at a distance. 19 They said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself, and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.'
• Heb 12:18-21 : 18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, that is burning with fire, to darkness, gloom, and a storm, 19 to a trumpet blast or a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."