Hebrews 12:18-19 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-24

The exalted privileges of sincere Christians. "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched," etc. This paragraph exhibits a striking contrast between Sinai and Zion—the Mosaic and the Christian dispensations. The chief points of the contrast seem to be these: 1. The sensuous at Sinai is contrasted with the spiritual at Zion. At Sinai the manifestations were palpable, visible, audible ( Hebrews 12:18 , Hebrews 12:19 ); at Zion they were heavenly, and to some extent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-24

Sinai and Zion. Esau bewailed his lost birthright, and yet to what did that birthright lead the posterity of him who gained it? See the posterity of Jacob gathered round the terrible mountain in the wilderness. The posterity of Esau might perhaps congratulate themselves on having escaped the constraints of Jehovah that fell so sorely on the kindred children of Jacob. If, then, this birthright, over the foolish casting away of which Esau shed such copious and fruitless tears, led to such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-29

There follows now, both for encouragement and for warning, a grand contrast between the Mosaic and Christian dispensations, founded on the phenomena that accompanied the giving of the Law. To Mount Sinai, with its repelling terrors, is opposed an ideal picture of Mount Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem, expressive of the communion of saints in Christ. And then at Hebrews 12:25 (as previously in Hebrews 10:1-39 ) the tone of encouragement changes again to one of warning, the very excess of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:19-21

And the sound of a trumpet ( Exodus 19:16 ) , and the voice of words ( Deuteronomy 4:12 ); which voice they that heard entreated that no word should be spoken to them more : for they could not endure that which was commanded (rather, enjoined), If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned ( Exodus 19:13 ; "or thrust through with a dart" is an interpolation in the text from the passage in Exodus): and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:18

For ye are not come - To enforce the considerations already urged, the apostle introduces this sublime comparison between the old and new dispensations; Hebrews 12:18-24. The object, in accordance with the principal scope of the Epistle, is, to guard them against apostasy. To do this, he shows that under the new dispensation there was much more to hind them to fidelity, and to make apostasy dangerous, than there was under the old. The main point of the comparison is, that under the Jewish... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:19

And the voice of a trumpet - Exodus 19:19. The sound of the trumpet amidst the tempest was suited to increase the terror of the scene.And the voice of words - Spoken by God; Exodus 19:19. It is easy to conceive what must have been the awe produced by a voice uttered from the midst of the tempest so distinct as to be heard by the hundreds of thousands of Israel, when the speaker was invisible.Which voice they that heard ... - Exodus 20:18-19. It was so fearful and overpowering that the people... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 12:18-19

Hebrews 12:18-19. For, &c. As if he had said, Take heed of apostatizing from Christianity to Judaism again, because of the great privileges you enjoy by the gospel above what your fathers enjoyed by the law: which privileges contain a strong reason why you should attend to these exhortations and cautions; ye Who are proselyted to Christianity; are not come unto the mount that might Or could; be touched That is, of an earthly, material, or tangible nature; but which the people... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-29

God’s mercy and God’s judgment (12:18-29)There is no similarity between the experience of Israelite people under the old covenant and that of Christians under the new. Events that accompanied the giving of the law at Mount Sinai show that people saw the old covenant as something terrifying (18-21; cf. Exodus 19:12-13; Exodus 20:18-19). By contrast, Christians see the new covenant as something joyful. They are not kept at a distance from God as the Israelites were at Mount Sinai, but come right... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 12:18

mount . The texts omit. that might, &c . = that was touched. Greek. pselaphao. The reference is to Exodus 19:16-19 . and . This and other five "ands" in verses: Hebrews 12:18 , Hebrews 12:19 exemplify the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ). nor = and. blackness = a thick cloud. Greek. gnophos . Only here. darkness . Greek. skotos, but the texts read zophos. See 2 Peter 2:4 , 2 Peter 2:17 . Jude 1:6 , Jude 1:13 . tempest . Greek. thuella. Only here. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 12:19

sound . Greek. echos. See Acts 2:2 . words . Greek. rhema. See Mark 9:32 . intreated . Greek. paraiteomai. Same as "refuse" in Hebrews 12:25 . See Luke 14:18 (make excuse). word . Greek. logos . App-121 . spoken = added. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-29

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:19-21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:19

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 12:18-19

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 12:18-29

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 12:18

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 12:19

Group of Brands