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Hebrews 12:20

“for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”

Hebrews 12:20 · direct translation from the Greek
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20

Quotation · Exodus 19:12-13

Go to Exodus 19:12-13

Hebrews sums up the order of Exodus 19:12-13 with the case of the animal.

Formula: οὐκ ἔφερον γὰρ τὸ διαστελλόμενον “for they could not bear what was commanded” (Hebrews 12:20)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: οὐκ ἔφερον γὰρ τὸ διαστελλόμενον Κἂν θηρίον θίγῃ τοῦ ὄρους λιθοβοληθήσεται

Hebrew (Masoretic text): וְהִגְבַּלְתָּ אֶת הָעָם סָבִיב לֵאמֹר הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם עֲלוֹת בָּהָר וּנְגֹעַ בְּקָצֵהוּ כָּל הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּהָר מוֹת יוּמָת לֹא תִגַּע בּוֹ יָד כִּי סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל אוֹ יָרֹה יִיָּרֶה אִם בְּהֵמָה אִם אִישׁ לֹא יִחְיֶה בִּמְשֹׁךְ הַיֹּבֵל הֵמָּה יַעֲלוּ בָהָר

Septuagint (Exodus 19:13 in the Septuagint numbering): οὐχ ἅψεται αὐτοῦ χείρ· ἐν γὰρ λίθοις λιθοβοληθήσεται ἢ βολίδι κατατοξευθήσεται· ἐάν τε κτῆνος ἐάν τε ἄνθρωπος, οὐ ζήσεται ὅταν αἱ φωναὶ καὶ αἱ σάλ- πιγγες καὶ ἡ νεφέλη ἀπέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους, ἐκεῖνοι ἀναβήσονται ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος.

In the Septuagint verse that most resembles it, at most 2 consecutive words match the Greek of the NT. The transcription has reading errors, so a match may not show.

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Hebrews 12:20, word by word

bearἔφερονepheron

endure

To bear patiently something heavy or hard.

Where else “epheron” appears
what was commandedδιαστελλόμενονdiastellomenon

give orders

Give strict orders, command.

Where else “diastellomenon” appears
If evenΚἂνKan

even if

Raises an extreme case that does not change what is stated.

Where else “Kan” appears
an animalθηρίονthērion

wild animal

An animal of the wild that lives free and can be dangerous.

Where else “thērion” appears
touchesθίγῃthigēi

touch

To lay a hand on something.

Where else “thigēi” appears
the mountainὄρουςorous

mountain

Mountain, hill.

Where else “orous” appears
it will be stonedλιθοβοληθήσεταιlithobolēthēsetai

stone

Stone someone, kill or attack by throwing stones.

Where else “lithobolēthēsetai” appears

Translation note· on the manuscripts

This recalls Exodus 19:12-13. Some manuscripts would add “or shot with an arrow”; the apparatus used does not record it.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Quotation · Exodus 19:12-13

Hebrews sums up the order of Exodus 19:12-13 with the case of the animal.

See them side by side

Hebrews 12:20

20for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned.

Exodus 19:12-13

12You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up on the mountain or touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

The context

19and to the sound of a trumpet and to a voice of words, which those who heard begged that no word be added to them,

20 · This verse (above)

21And so fearful was the sight that Moses said: I am terrified and trembling.

Read all of Hebrews 12

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