Deuteronomy 4:12

“YHWH spoke to you from the midst of the fire. You were hearing the sound of words, but you saw no form; only a voice.”

Deuteronomy 4:12 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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A voice from the fire; God declared his covenant to them: the ten wordsThe Word of God

With the Hebrew beneath

12

Deuteronomy 4:12, word by word

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
spokeיְדַבֵּרyedaber

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

Where else “yedaber” appears
from the midstתּוֹךְtoch

midst

The central point of something, or the company of several: in the midst of them.

Where else “toch” appears
of the fireאֵשׁesh

fire

Fire that burns or cooks.

Where else “esh” appears
were hearingשֹׁמְעִיםshomim

hear

To hear a sound, or learn of something.

Where else “shomim” appears
the soundקוֹלkol

voice

What is heard when someone speaks or sings; also the voice of God.

Where else “kol” appears
of wordsדְּבָרִיםdevarim

word

What someone says or announces, above all what YHWH says.

Where else “devarim” appears
you sawרֹאִיםroim

see

To see with one's eyes.

Where else “roim” appears
formתְמוּנָהtemuna

form, likeness

Form, the visible shape of something.

Where else “temuna” appears
onlyזוּלָתִיzulati

except, besides

Except, besides.

Where else “zulati” appears

The context

11You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire to the heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud, and thick cloud.

12 · This verse (above)

13He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to carry out, the ten words, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Read all of Deuteronomy 4

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