Deuteronomy 5:22 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God spoke the Ten Commandments to all Israel with a great voice and wrote them on two stone tablets.
The Context of Deuteronomy 5:22
God gives the Ten Commandments to all Israel and writes them on stone tablets.
What Does Deuteronomy 5:22 Mean?
The divine voice from the midst of fire, cloud, and darkness proclaimed the commandments directly to the entire assembly. The theophanic setting—the overwhelming sensory experience of God's presence—emphasized the sacred authority and immutable nature of what was being spoken. The finality (he added no more) showed these Ten Commandments were complete, sufficient, and foundational. Then God inscribed them on stone, symbolizing their permanence and binding character.
The stone tablets were not mere writing materials but sacred objects. God Himself wrote them, making them a sign of the covenant written on a medium that would outlast paper or human memory. Delivering them to Moses established him as the custodian of God's law.
Deuteronomy 5:22 in the Original Language
luchot (לוּחוֹת), 'tables' — tablets or boards, here of stone, inscribed with God's own hand to bear the Ten Commandments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 5:22
What does Deuteronomy 5:22 mean?
God spoke the Ten Commandments to all Israel with a great voice and wrote them on two stone tablets.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 5:22?
God gives the Ten Commandments to all Israel and writes them on stone tablets.