Exodus 31:18
And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the very Law of God was a direct inscription by His "finger," signifying its divine origin and inherent authority, not a human creation or mere suggestion. It also reveals that these tables, meant to endure, represented God's will and would serve as a testimony—a witness, and potentially a judgment—against those who disobeyed.
After forty days and nights of intense divine instruction for the Tabernacle, God concludes His direct communication with Moses by handing him the two stone tablets. These tablets, promised earlier, contain the Ten Commandments written directly by God's power, serving as the ultimate testimony of His will and the foundation for the covenant, before Moses descends from the mountain.
Why did God give Moses the Ten Commandments on stone tablets?
God's detailed instructions for the Tabernacle weren't just about building a fancy tent. They were all leading up to this moment! The Ark of the Covenant, the centerpiece of the Holy of Holies, was specifically designed to hold the 'tables of testimony.' This physical document, inscribed by God Himself, was the whole point. It was the tangible proof of God's covenant with Israel, the very reason the sanctuary existed.
What does it mean that the tablets were 'written with the finger of God'?
This isn't just poetic language; it emphasizes the direct, supernatural origin of God's law. Unlike any human writing, these tablets were inscribed by God's power alone. It signifies the immutability and divine authority of the commandments. God wasn't just dictating; He was imprinting His will onto durable stone, showing its lasting importance and His direct involvement with His people.
Why are these stone tablets called 'tables of testimony'?
The name 'tables of testimony' is crucial. These weren't just rules; they were a divine declaration. They testified to God's character, His holiness, and His covenantal faithfulness. Equally, they served as a testimony against Israel, highlighting their failures and the consequences of disobedience. The law bore witness to God's standard and humanity's inability to meet it perfectly on their own.
Understand the original words
eduth · Hebrew Noun
A formal, divine witness or evidence of the covenant, specifically referring to the Ten Commandments inscribed on stone, representing God's moral law and standard of holiness.
etsba Elohim · Hebrew Noun phrase
A metonymic expression for the direct, sovereign act of God; it emphasizes the divine origin, authority, and permanence of the law, being untouched by human hand.
This passage directly foreshadows the giving of the tablets, mentioning God's promise to give Moses stone tablets 'which I have written,' setting the stage for this climactic moment.
Deuteronomy 5:22This passage recounts the giving of the Ten Commandments from Moses' perspective, emphasizing that 'the Lord wrote them on two tables of stone,' echoing the divine authorship mentioned in Exodus.
John 1:14This verse speaks of the Word becoming flesh, paralleling the divine Word being directly inscribed on stone, highlighting God's direct communication and presence with humanity.
2 Corinthians 3:3Paul contrasts the old covenant's stone tablets with the new covenant written on hearts by the Spirit, drawing a direct link to the physical writing of God's law and its spiritual application today.
Jeremiah 31:33This prophecy of the new covenant speaks of God's law being written 'on their inward parts and in their heart,' offering a spiritual fulfillment to the physical inscription of the law on stone tablets.
clarkeExodus 31:18: "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."
When he had made an end of communing - When the forty days and forty nights were ended. Two tables of testimony - See Clarke's note on Exodus 34:1. Tables of stone - That the record might be lasting, because it was a testimony that referred to future generations, and therefore the materials should be durable. Written wi…
wesleyExodus 31:18: "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."
31:18 These tables of stone, were not prepared by Moses, but probably by the ministry of angels. They were written with the finger of God - That is, by his will and power immediately, without the use of any instrument. They were written in two tables, being designed to direct us in our duty, towards God, and towards man…
This verse highlights that the very Law of God was a direct inscription by His "finger," signifying its divine origin and inherent authority, not a human creation or mere suggestion. It also reveals that these tables, meant to endure, represented God's will and would serve as a testimony—a witness, and potentially a judgment—against those who disobeyed.
After forty days and nights of intense divine instruction for the Tabernacle, God concludes His direct communication with Moses by handing him the two stone tablets. These tablets, promised earlier, contain the Ten Commandments written directly by God's power, serving as the ultimate testimony of His will and the foundation for the covenant, before Moses descends from the mountain.
After forty days and nights of intense divine instruction for the Tabernacle, God concludes His direct communication with Moses by handing him the two stone tablets. These tablets, promised earlier, contain the Ten Commandments written directly by God's power, serving as the ultimate testimony of His will and the foundation for the covenant, before Moses descends from the mountain.
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"And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." — This verse highlights that the very Law of God was a direct inscription by His "finger," signifying its divine origin and inherent authority, not a human creation or mere suggestion. It also reveals…
