Exodus 19:19

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

Exodus 19:19 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:19

And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long
Not in one continued tone, as before, ( Exodus 19:13 ) , where a different word is used, and when it decreased, and was about to cease, which was to summon the people to attend; but now they were come to the foot of the mount, and this sounding was a preparation to the giving of the law unto them, and was not one continued even tone: but waxed louder and louder; or, "going, and exceeding strong"; or, "strengthening itself exceedingly" F24; it went on to an high pitch, until it was exceeding vehement and strong, and so sonorous as scarce to be bore:

Moses spake;
what he said is not here recorded; it is highly probable, as has been observed by some, that he uttered those words related of him in ( Hebrews 12:21 ) "I exceedingly fear and quake": such an impression did this loud and strong voice of the trumpet make upon him:

and God answered him by a voice;
a still and gentle one, in order to encourage and comfort him; and so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,

``with a pleasant and audible voice, and with delightful words.''


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (dam qzxw Klwh) (probainousai iscuroterai sfodra) , Sept. "iens et fortificans se valde", Montanus; "roborans se", Vatablus; "quum pergeret et invalesceret valde", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Exodus 19:19 In-Context

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18 And Mount Sinai was altogether in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
20 And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mount; and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount, and Moses went up.
21 And the LORD said unto Moses, "Go down. Charge the people, lest they break through to gaze unto the LORD, and many of them perish.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.