Hebrews 12:21 (DBY)

Passage

and, so fearful was the sight, Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and full of trembling;)

Nearby Context

Hebrews 12:19 and trumpet's sound, and voice of words; which they that heard, excusing themselves, declined [the] word being addressed to them any more:

Hebrews 12:20 (for they were not able to bear what was enjoined: And if a beast should touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

Hebrews 12:21 and, so fearful was the sight, Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and full of trembling;)

Hebrews 12:22 but ye have come to mount Zion; and to [the] city of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads of angels,

Hebrews 12:23 the universal gathering; and to [the] assembly of the firstborn [who are] registered in heaven; and to God, judge of all; and to [the] spirits of just [men] made perfect;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "fearful", "sight", "moses", "said", "exceedingly", "afraid", "full", and "trembling". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "fearful" and "sight", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "for they were not able to bear..." into verse 22's "but ye have come to mount Zion...", so "fearful" and "sight" belong inside that flow. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "fearful" and "sight" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.