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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Deuteronomy 5:26

Has any human being ever lived after hearing the living God speak from a fire?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Obedience;   Sinai;   Theocracy;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Mediator;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Priest;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baptism of Fire;   Life;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Deuteronomy;   Law;   Ten Commandments;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Flesh (2);   Living (2);  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Peculiarities of the Law of Moses;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Death;   Deuteronomy;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
King James Version
For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Lexham English Bible
For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire as we have heard it and remained alive?
English Standard Version
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived?
New Century Version
No human being has ever heard the living God speaking from a fire and still lived, but we have.
New English Translation
Who is there from the entire human race who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived?
Amplified Bible
'For who is there of all flesh (mankind) who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
New American Standard Bible
'For who is there of humanity who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Geneva Bible (1587)
For what flesh was there euer, that heard the voyce of the liuing God speaking out of the middes of the fire as we haue, and liued?
Legacy Standard Bible
For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Contemporary English Version
Has anyone else ever heard the only true God speaking from fire, as we have? And even if they have, would they live to tell about it?
Complete Jewish Bible
Oh, how I wish their hearts would stay like this always, that they would fear me and obey all my mitzvot; so that it would go well with them and their children forever.
Darby Translation
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we, and has lived?
Easy-to-Read Version
No one has ever heard the living God speak from the fire like we have and still lived!
George Lamsa Translation
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Christian Standard Bible®
For who out of all mankind has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the fire, as we have, and lived?
Literal Translation
For who of all flesh that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have , and has lived?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For what is all fleshe, that it shulde be able to heare ye voyce of the lyuynge God speakynge out of ye fyre, as we haue done, and yet lyue?
American Standard Version
For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Bible in Basic English
For what man is there in all the earth, who, hearing the voice of the living God as we have, out of the heart of the fire, has been kept from death?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For what fleshe hath it ben that euer hearde the voyce of the lyuyng God speakyng out of the middes of the fire (as we haue done) and yet dyd lyue?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Go say to them: Return ye to your tents.
King James Version (1611)
For who is there of all flesh that hath heard the voice of the liuing God, speaking out of the midst of the fire (as we haue) and liued?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For what flesh is there which has heard the voice of the living God, speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have heard, and shall live?
English Revised Version
For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Berean Standard Bible
For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What is ech man, that he here the vois of God lyuynge, that spekith fro the myddis of fier, as we herden, and that he may lyue?
Young's Literal Translation
For who of all flesh [is] he who hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire like us -- and doth live?
Update Bible Version
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Webster's Bible Translation
For who [is there of] all flesh that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we [have], and lived?
World English Bible
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
New King James Version
For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
New Living Translation
Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we did and yet survive?
New Life Bible
For who of all flesh has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking from the center of the fire, as we have heard, and lived?
New Revised Standard
For who is there of all flesh that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and remained alive?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For who is there of all flesh, that ever heard the voice of a Living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we, and yet lived?
Douay-Rheims Bible
What is all flesh, that it should hear the voice of the living God, who speaketh out of the midst of the fire, as we have heard, and be able to live?
Revised Standard Version
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire, as we have, and has still lived?
THE MESSAGE
Moses Teaches Israel on the Plains of Moab Moses called all Israel together. He said to them, Attention, Israel. Listen obediently to the rules and regulations I am delivering to your listening ears today. Learn them. Live them. God , our God, made a covenant with us at Horeb. God didn't just make this covenant with our parents; he made it also with us, with all of us who are alive right now. God spoke to you personally out of the fire on the mountain. At the time I stood between God and you, to tell you what God said. You were afraid, remember, of the fire and wouldn't climb the mountain. He said: I am God , your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of slaves. No other gods, only me. No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God. I hold parents responsible for any sins they pass on to their children to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation. But I'm lovingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments. No using the name of God , your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverent use of his name. No working on the Sabbath; keep it holy just as God , your God, commanded you. Work six days, doing everything you have to do, but the seventh day is a Sabbath, a Rest Day—no work: not you, your son, your daughter, your servant, your maid, your ox, your donkey (or any of your animals), and not even the foreigner visiting your town. That way your servants and maids will get the same rest as you. Don't ever forget that you were slaves in Egypt and God , your God, got you out of there in a powerful show of strength. That's why God , your God, commands you to observe the day of Sabbath rest. Respect your father and mother— God , your God, commands it! You'll have a long life; the land that God is giving you will treat you well. No murder. No adultery. No stealing. No lies about your neighbor. No coveting your neighbor's wife. And no lusting for his house, field, servant, maid, ox, or donkey either—nothing that belongs to your neighbor! These are the words that God spoke to the whole congregation at the mountain. He spoke in a tremendous voice from the fire and cloud and dark mist. And that was it. No more words. Then he wrote them on two slabs of stone and gave them to me. As it turned out, when you heard the Voice out of that dark cloud and saw the mountain on fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your leaders, and said, "Our God has revealed to us his glory and greatness. We've heard him speak from the fire today! We've seen that God can speak to humans and they can still live. But why risk it further? This huge fire will devour us if we stay around any longer. If we hear God 's voice anymore, we'll die for sure. Has anyone ever known of anyone who has heard the Voice of God the way we have and lived to tell the story?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

Contextual Overview

23 "When the whole mountain was on fire and you heard the voice from the darkness, your leaders and the chiefs of your tribes came to me 24 and said, ‘The Lord our God showed us his greatness and his glory when we heard him speak from the fire! Today we have seen that it is possible for people to continue to live, even though God has spoken to them. 25 But why should we risk death again? That terrible fire will destroy us. We are sure to die if we hear the Lord our God speak again. 26 Has any human being ever lived after hearing the living God speak from a fire? 27 Go back, Moses, and listen to everything that the Lord our God says. Then return and tell us what he said to you. We will listen and obey.' 28 "When the Lord heard this, he said to me, ‘I have heard what these people said, and they are right. 29 If only they would always feel this way! If only they would always honor me and obey all my commands, so that everything would go well with them and their descendants forever. 30 Go and tell them to return to their tents. 31 But you, Moses, stay here with me, and I will give you all my laws and commands. Teach them to the people, so that they will obey them in the land that I am giving them.' 32 "People of Israel, be sure that you do everything that the Lord your God has commanded you. Do not disobey any of his laws.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

who is: It seems to have been a general opinion, that if God appeared to men, it was for the purpose of destroying them. And indeed most of the extraordinary manifestations of God were in the way of judgment; but here it was widely different. God did appear in a sovereign and extraordinary manner; but it was for the instruction, direction, deliverance, and support of his people.

1. They heard this voice speaking with them in a distinct, articulate manner.

2. They saw the fire, the symbol of his presence, the appearances of which demonstrated it to be supernatural.

3. Notwithstanding God appeared so terrible, yet no person was destroyed; for he came not to destroy but to save. Deuteronomy 4:33

all flesh: Genesis 6:12, Isaiah 40:6, Romans 3:20

living: Joshua 3:10, Psalms 42:2, Psalms 84:2, Jeremiah 10:10, Daniel 6:26, Matthew 26:63, Acts 14:15, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:22 - and I will Deuteronomy 4:7 - who hath Judges 6:22 - because Judges 13:22 - We shall 1 Samuel 17:26 - defy Jeremiah 23:36 - of the Jeremiah 42:3 - General Matthew 16:16 - the living 1 Timothy 3:15 - the living Hebrews 9:14 - the living Hebrews 12:22 - of the Revelation 7:2 - living

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For who [is there] of all flesh,.... What man was there in any age, that was ever heard of or can be named:

that hath heard the voice of the living God; who lives in and of himself, and is the author and giver of life to all his creatures, whereby he is distinguished from and is opposed unto the lifeless deities of the Gentiles; and which makes him and his voice heard the more awful and tremendous, and especially as

speaking out of the midst of the fire: which was the present case:

as we [have], and lived? of this there never was the like instance; for though some had seen God and lived, as Jacob did, and therefore called the name of the place where he saw him Penuel, Genesis 32:30, and Moses had heard the voice of the angel of the Lord out of a bush, which seemed to be burning, and was not consumed, Exodus 3:2, yet none ever heard the voice of the Lord out of real fire, and particularly expressing such words as he did, but the Israelites. Zoroastres, the founder of the Magi among the Persians, and of their religion, seems to have had respect to this, and to have applied falsely this to himself, which belonged to Moses and the people of Israel; for it is said k,

"one reason the Persians have fire in so much veneration is, because they say that Zoroastres, being caught up to heaven, did not see God, but heard him speaking with him out of the midst of fire.''

k Hyde Hist. Relig. Vet. Pers. c. 8. p. 160.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These verses contain a much fuller narrative of the events briefly described in Exodus 20:18-21. Here it is important to call attention to the fact that it was on the entreaties of the people that Moses had taken on him to be the channel of communication between God and them. God approved Deuteronomy 5:28 the request of the people, because it showed a feeling of their own unworthiness to enter into direct communion with God. The terrors of Sinai had done their work; they had awakened the consciousness of sin.


 
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