Hebrews 12:20
Hebrews 12:20
(KJV) (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:
(1611 KJV) For they could not indure that which was commaunded: And if so much as a beast touch the Mountaine, it shall be stoned, or thrust thorow with a dart.
(1587 Geneva Bible) (For they were not able to abide yt which was commaunded, yea, though a beast touche the mountaine, it shalbe stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
(1526 Tyndale) For they were not able to abyde that which was spoken. If a beast had touched the mountayne it must have bene stoned or thrust thorowe with a darte:
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
(1901 ASV) for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
(AMP) For they could not bear the command that was given: If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.
(CEB) They couldn’t stand the command, If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.
(CEV) because they could not obey its commands. They were even told to kill any animal that touched the mountain.
(CSB) for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.
(1899 Douay-Rheims American Edition-RC) For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.
(ERV) They did not want to hear the command: “If anything, even an animal, touches the mountain, it must be killed with stones.”
(ESV) For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
(GNB) because they could not bear the order which said, If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.
(HCSB) for they could not bear what was commanded: And if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned!
(THE MESSAGE) When they heard the words—"If an animal touches the Mountain, it's as good as dead"
(NASV) For they could not bear the command, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.”
(NCV) They did not want to hear the command: "If anything, even an animal, touches the mountain, it must be put to death with stones."
(NIRV) What God commanded was too much for them. He said, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be killed with stones."
(NIV) because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”
(NLV) They could not stand to listen to His strong words, “Even if an animal comes to the mountain, it must be killed.”
(NLT) They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”
(RSV) For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."
(NAB-Roman Catholic) for they could not bear to hear the command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) For the command was not bearable to them: “And if a beast touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
ουκ εφερον γαρ το διαστελλομενον καν θηριον θιγη του ορους λιθοβοληθησεται η βολιδι κατατοξευθησεται
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
ουκ εφερον γαρ το διαστελλομενον καν θηριον θιγη του ορους λιθοβοληθησεται
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
“Or through with a dart” is omitted in the following manuscripts.
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this Verse
Erasmus - First Edition - 1516
Erasmus - Second Edition - 1519
Erasmus - Third edition - 1522
Stephanus (1550 A.D.)
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “or thrust through with a dart”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902
Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text 1982 as corrected in 1985
 
Affected Teaching
(Exo 19:12-13 KJV) 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: {13} There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
 
The part which is omitted in the modern versions is part of the penalty attached to any man or animal which approached Mount Sinai. If either had touched it, then they were to be stoned or shot through. If the violator was close at hand, they could be stoned by the people but if they were at a distance, then the people would shoot arrows at them so there would be no fear of another casualty by approaching the mountain. The Greek word “bolidi” can refer to a javelin, spear, arrow, or dart. There is no legitimate reason for this second penalty to have been omitted.

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