Exodus Chapter 20 verse 20 Holy Bible
And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not.
read chapter 20 in ASV
And Moses said to the people, Have no fear: for God has come to put you to the test, so that fearing him you may be kept from sin.
read chapter 20 in BBE
And Moses said to the people, Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not.
read chapter 20 in DARBY
And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
read chapter 20 in KJV
And Moses said to the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
read chapter 20 in WBT
Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin."
read chapter 20 in WEB
And Moses saith unto the people, `Fear not, for to try you hath God come, and in order that His fear may be before your faces -- that ye sin not.'
read chapter 20 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 20. - And Moses said unto the people. Not immediately - Moses first held colloquy with God. God declared that the people had "spoken well" (Deuteronomy 5:28); and authorised Moses to allow of their withdrawal (ib, 30). Fear not. Here Exodus is more full in its details than Deuteronomy. Moses, finding the people in a state of extreme alarm, pacified them - assured them that there was no cause for immediate fear - God had not now come in vengeance - the object of the terrors of Sinai was to "prove" them - i.e., to test them, whether they were inclined to submit themselves to God, or not - and to impress upon their minds permanently an awful fear of God, that they might he kept back from sin by dread of his almighty power. The motive of fear is, no doubt, a low one; but where we can appeal to nothing else, we must appeal to it. Israel was still a child, only fit for childish discipline; and had to be directed by the harsh voice of fear, until it had learnt to he guided by the tender accents of love.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20) Moses said unto the people, Fear not.--God approved the people's proposal, and directed that they should withdraw to their tents (Deuteronomy 5:28-30). Moses then "drew near" to Him, and entered into "the thick darkness where God was" (Exodus 20:21). It is worthy of notice that the same manifestation which repelled the people attracted Moses.