Exodus 19:16-20

16 On the morning of the ¹third day there were ²thunders and lightnings and ³a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud ⁴trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp ⁵trembled.

17 Then ⁶Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

18 Now ⁷Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and ⁸the whole mountain trembled greatly.

19 And as the ⁹sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and ¹⁰God answered him in thunder.

20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Exodus 19:16-20 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

• 1. [See ver. 15 above]
• 2. Psalms 77:18; Hebrews 12:18; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:19
• 3. ver. 9
• 4. ver. 13
• 5. Hebrews 12:21
• 6. Deuteronomy 4:10
• 7. Exodus 24:17; Judges 5:5; [Psalms 144:5; Isaiah 6:4; Revelation 15:8]
• 8. Psalms 68:8; Hebrews 12:26
• 9. [See ver. 16 above]
• 10. Nehemiah 9:13; Psalms 81:7