Exodus 19:4-14

4 1You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how 2I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be 3my treasured possession among all peoples, for 4all the earth is mine;
6 and you shall be to me a 5kingdom of priests and 6a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.
8 7All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.
9 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you 8in a thick cloud, that 9the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also 10believe you forever."When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD,
10 the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and 11consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them 12wash their garments
11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day 13the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, 'Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. 14Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.
13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;[a] whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When 15the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain."
14 So Moses 16went down from the mountain to the people and 17consecrated the people; 18and they washed their garments.

Exodus 19:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 19

In this chapter we have an account of the coming of the children of Israel to Mount Sinai, Ex 19:1,2, of the covenant made with them there, the proposal on the part of God, and their acceptance of it, Ex 19:3-8, the previous notice God gave three days before of his appearance on the mount, the orders for their preparation to meet him, and the execution of them, Ex 19:9-15, the awful and tremendous appearance of God upon the mount, Ex 19:6-20 and the strict charge given, that neither people nor priests should come near and gaze, only Moses and Aaron with him were to come up, bounds being set to prevent the rest, Ex 19:21-24, and the chapter is closed with observing, that Moses went down from the mount, and delivered to the people what the Lord spoke to and by him, Ex 19:25.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Deuteronomy 29:2
  • 2. Deuteronomy 32:11, 12; Isaiah 63:9; Revelation 12:14
  • 3. Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18; Psalms 135:4; Malachi 3:17; Titus 2:14
  • 4. Exodus 9:29; Deuteronomy 10:14; Job 41:11; Psalms 24:1; Psalms 50:12; 1 Corinthians 10:26
  • 5. 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6
  • 6. Leviticus 20:26; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:21; Deuteronomy 26:19; Deuteronomy 28:9; Isaiah 62:12; 1 Peter 2:9
  • 7. Exodus 24:3, 7; Deuteronomy 5:27; Deuteronomy 26:17
  • 8. Exodus 20:21; Exodus 24:16; Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 18:11; Psalms 97:2; [Matthew 17:5]
  • 9. Deuteronomy 4:12, 36; [John 12:28, 29]
  • 10. Exodus 14:31
  • 11. Leviticus 11:44, 45; [Joshua 3:5]
  • 12. [Genesis 35:2; Leviticus 15:5]
  • 13. Exodus 34:5; [Deuteronomy 33:2]
  • 14. Cited Hebrews 12:20
  • 15. ver. 16, 19
  • 16. ver. 3
  • 17. [See ver. 10 above]
  • 18. [See ver. 10 above]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, shot with an arrow
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.