The Voice of God in 'The Ten Commandments' 1956: Behind the Scenes

The 1956 film adaptation of The Ten Commandments remains a compelling and visually stunning cinematic achievement. One often-overlooked aspect of this epic movie is the voice of God. Who was it that brought the divine element to the iconic scene where God gives the tablets to Moses?

Scriptural Foundations

The Ten Commandments are given in the Bible multiple times, with subtle differences in each account. This raises the question of who is speaking in movies like the 1956 adaptation. In the Bible, the finger of God plays a crucial role in each instance.

Deuteronomy 9:10 states, The Lord gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the Lord had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.

Exodus 31:18 mentions, When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.

These verses highlight the importance of the finger of God in the divine communication.

Jesus as the Representation of God

Additionally, Jesus, as the embodiment of God's name, is also a manifestation of divine presence. Just as Jesus manifested God's name, angels as His representatives are also manifestations of God in different degrees, all working toward creating more heirs of salvation. This theological concept is central to biblical understanding.

Charles Heston and the Burning Bush

As the film portrays the burning bush scene, one might wonder if Charles Heston, the actor who portrayed Moses, also voiced the burning bush. However, a different approach was taken for the more dramatic tablet-giving scene.

Voicing God in the Tablet-Giving Scene

The voice of God in the tablet-giving scene was offered by a voice actor named Jesse Delos Jewkes. Jewkes had a deep bass voice and was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. His voice was further enhanced using the 'vox humana' stop of the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ.

Anthony de Mille, the director's son, recounts that due to his friendship with David O. McKay, president of the LDS church at the time, he secured the permission to record the organ. This added an extra layer of authenticity and divine resonance to the scene.

Producing the Film: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Ultimately, it was Cecil B. De Mille, the visionary behind the film, who provided the divine inspiration. De Mille, known for his grand gestures and meticulous attention to detail, played a pivotal role in creating the epic that captivated audiences worldwide.

Understanding the choices behind the voice of God in The Ten Commandments adds a new dimension to the film's impact, highlighting the theological and artistic decisions that shape such historical and religious adaptations.