Devine Scripture

Hebrews 12:18

What does Hebrews 12:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 12:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 12:18 means

Believers have not come to a physical mountain like Sinai, ablaze with fire, shrouded in darkness and storm. The description underscores the terror and distance that marked the old covenant revelation. God’s holiness there was unapproachable; the senses were overwhelmed, and fear dominated the encounter. The verse sets a contrast: the new covenant does not bring believers to that same fearful, external scene. This prepares the way to describe what we have actually come to—a heavenly, festive, relational reality in Christ. The aim is not to diminish Sinai’s gravity but to show that, in Jesus, access to God takes a different form, marked by joy and nearness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You have not come to a mountain which may be touched, and is burning with fire, and to a black cloud, and a dark smoke, and a violent wind,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

For ye came not near to the mount touched and scorched with fire, and to blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched and a burning fire and a whirlwind and darkness and storm,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For ye have not come to [the mount] that might be touched and was all on fire, and to obscurity, and darkness, and tempest,

Context

After the strong warnings of vv. 15–17, the writer begins a grand contrast between two mountains—Sinai and Zion (vv. 18–24). Verse 18 starts by clarifying what the readers have not approached: the fearsome manifestations associated with the giving of the law. The next verses (vv. 19–21) continue this Sinai portrait of dread, before the tone shifts dramatically in verses 22–24 to the blessings of the heavenly Zion. This contrast supports the call to attentive obedience that follows (vv. 25–29).

v.17For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.

v.18This passage

v.19and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 19:12

    And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

  • 2 Corinthians 3:9

    For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

  • Deuteronomy 5:22

    These words Jehovah 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 upon two tables of stone, and gave them unto me.

  • Exodus 24:17

    And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

  • Romans 6:14

    For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.

  • Romans 8:15

    For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

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