Hebrews 12:20 Meaning and Explanation
“(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The command was so severe that even an animal touching the mountain had to be put to death.
What Does Hebrews 12:20 Mean?
In a brief aside, the writer explains why the people could not bear what they heard, quoting the boundary set in Exodus 19. The mountain of God was fenced with a deadly warning.
Even a straying animal that touched the holy mountain was to be stoned, so unapproachable was the place where God had come down. The detail underlines the absolute separation between a holy God and a sinful people under that arrangement. It is precisely this barrier that the new and better approach in Christ overcomes, opening what was once sealed by death.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 12:20
What does Hebrews 12:20 mean?
The command was so severe that even an animal touching the mountain had to be put to death.