Deuteronomy 5:27-28
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The Israelites, utterly terrified by God's voice directly from the mountain, don't just ask Moses to relay the message; they ask him to approach God for them and then communicate everything God says. This highlights their profound realization that direct divine encounter is too overwhelming, making Moses their essential, divinely appointed mediator.
Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say, and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’ “And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the terrifying experience of hearing God's voice directly from Mount Sinai, the Israelites were overwhelmed and afraid, believing they would die if they heard God speak to them any more. They pleaded with Moses to go near God himself, to hear what God had to say, and then relay it to them, promising to listen and obey everything he told them from God. God agreed to this arrangement, which established Moses as the mediator between God and His people for the transmission of His commands.
Imagine standing at the foot of a mountain ablaze with fire, thunder roaring, and a voice like a trumpet blast. The Israelites felt this raw power. What was their immediate reaction?
The experience at Mount Sinai was terrifying for the Israelites. The sheer holiness and power of God, revealed through fire, cloud, and darkness, overwhelmed them. Their reaction wasn't indifference; it was profound fear. They confessed, 'we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us.' (Deuteronomy 5:24-25). Their terror led them to ask Moses to be their intermediary, fearing they would die if they heard God's voice directly again. This highlights the immense holiness of God and the fallen state of humanity, where direct, unmediated access to the divine is deadly.
The Israelites couldn't bear to hear God directly. Who did they turn to, and what does this reveal about God's plan for communication?
Because of their overwhelming fear, the Israelites designated Moses as their mediator. They said to him, 'Go near and hear all that the LORD our God shall say, and speak to us all that the LORD our God shall speak to you.' (Deuteronomy 5:27). This establishes Moses as the vital link between God and the people. God heard their request and affirmed this mediation. Later, God instructs Moses: 'Stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments...' (Deuteronomy 5:31). This shows that God, in His wisdom, uses human messengers to communicate His will, making His message accessible without destroying His people. Moses was not just a passive recipient but an active interpreter, tasked with teaching them what he heard.
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The people made a bold promise: 'we will hear it, and do it.' What does this reveal about their hearts, and how did God respond?
Following their fearful encounter and their request for mediation, the Israelites enthusiastically declared, 'we will hear it, and do it.' (Deuteronomy 5:27). This was a fervent, immediate response driven by their recent terror and awe. God acknowledged their statement, saying, 'They have well said all that they have spoken.' (Deuteronomy 5:28). However, God's insight was deeper. He expressed a longing: 'Oh that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them...' (Deuteronomy 5:29). This reveals a tension: the people's outward promise of obedience versus their inward capacity to consistently follow through. God desires a genuine, heart-level commitment, not just a temporary, fear-induced response. He commends their words but recognizes the ongoing need for a transformed heart.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenant name of God (Yahweh), revealed to Moses. It signifies His unchanging faithfulness, His self-existence, and His commitment to His covenant relationship with His people.
This passage describes the Israelites' reaction to hearing God's voice directly, asking Moses to be their intermediary, which sets the stage for the request recorded in Deuteronomy 5:27.
Hebrews 12:18-19This New Testament passage contrasts the terrifying experience of Mount Sinai with the spiritual reality believers have in Christ, highlighting the people's fear and desire for mediation shown in Deuteronomy 5:27.
John 1:17While the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. This verse offers a New Testament perspective on how God's will is now communicated, moving beyond the mediated approach the Israelites desired.
1 Samuel 3:10When God calls Samuel, the response 'Speak, for your servant is listening' echoes the Israelites' desire to hear God's word, but with a spirit of humble receptivity that the Israelites, despite their promise, struggled to maintain.
Romans 10:14-17This passage discusses the importance of hearing the message of God through preaching, paralleling the Israelites' request for Moses to speak God's words to them, emphasizing that faith comes from hearing the message of Christ.
gillDeuteronomy 5:27: "Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it."
Go thou near,.... To the mount, and to God on it: and hear all that the Lord our God shall say; for they supposed, by the continuance of the Lord on the mount, and the fire burning on it, that he had more to say, which they were not averse to hear; but desired it might be not immediately delivered to them, but by…
calvinDeuteronomy 5:22-31: "These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me."
- These words the Lord spoke unto all your assembly in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice; and he added no more: and he wrote them in two tables of stone, and del…
The Israelites, utterly terrified by God's voice directly from the mountain, don't just ask Moses to relay the message; they ask him to approach God for them and then communicate everything God says. This highlights their profound realization that direct divine encounter is too overwhelming, making Moses their essential, divinely appointed mediator.
After the terrifying experience of hearing God's voice directly from Mount Sinai, the Israelites were overwhelmed and afraid, believing they would die if they heard God speak to them any more. They pleaded with Moses to go near God himself, to hear what God had to say, and then relay it to them, promising to listen and obey everything he told them from God. God agreed to this arrangement, which established Moses as the mediator between God and His people for the transmission of His commands.
After the terrifying experience of hearing God's voice directly from Mount Sinai, the Israelites were overwhelmed and afraid, believing they would die if they heard God speak to them any more. They pleaded with Moses to go near God himself, to hear what God had to say, and then relay it to them, promising to listen and obey everything he told them from God. God agreed to this arrangement, which established Moses as the mediator between God and His people for the transmission of His commands.
"Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say, and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’ “And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the…" — The Israelites, utterly terrified by God's voice directly from the mountain, don't just ask Moses to relay the message; they ask him to approach God for them and then communicate everything God…
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Last reviewed October 2026
