Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee,.... Thunder is the voice of God, and by which he instructs men in the greatness of his power, Job 26:14, &c. unless his voice in giving the law, which was for the instruction of Israel, is meant; for that was heard on earth, on Mount Sinai, to which the following refers: and upon earth he showed thee his great fire; on Mount Sinai, which burned with it: and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire; the ten commands, and therefore may well be called, a fiery law; see Deu 4:12.