Exodus 19:8-18

8 ¹All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.

9 The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in ²a thick cloud, so that the ³people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.

10 The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and ⁴consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them ⁵wash their garments;

11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on ⁶the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12 "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; ⁷whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

13 'No hand shall touch him, but ⁸he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to ⁹the mountain."

14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments.

15 He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."

16 ¹⁰So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

The LORD Visits Sinai

18 ¹¹Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because * * the LORD descended upon it ¹²in fire; and its smoke ascended like ¹³the smoke of a furnace, and ¹⁴the whole mountain quaked violently.

Exodus 19:8-18 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. Exodus 4:31; Exodus 24:3, 7; Deuteronomy 5:27; Deuteronomy 26:17
• 2. Exodus 19:16; Exodus 24:15, 16; Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 99:7
• 3. Deuteronomy 4:12, 36
• 4. Leviticus 11:44, 45
• 5. Genesis 35:2; Leviticus 15:5; Numbers 8:7, 21; Numbers 19:19; Revelation 22:14
• 6. Exodus 19:16
• 7. Hebrews 12:20
• 8. Hebrews 12:20
• 9. Exodus 19:17
• 10. Heb 12:18, 19, 21
• 11. Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 104:32; Psalms 144:5
• 12. Exodus 3:2; Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 5:4; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Hebrews 12:18
• 13. Genesis 15:17; Genesis 19:28
• 14. Judges 5:5; Psalms 68:7, 8; Jeremiah 4:24

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Take heed to yourselves"
• [b]. I.e. with arrows
• [c]. Lit "sounds"
• [d]. Lit "lower part"
• [e]. Or "trembled"