Exodus 19:11

11 and be they ready into the third day; for in the third day the Lord shall come down before all the people on the hill of Sinai. (and be they ready by the third day; for on the third day the Lord shall come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.)

Exodus 19:11 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:11

And be ready against the third day
Not the third day of the month, but the third day from hence, this being the fourth, and the morrow the fifth, and the third day, the day following that, the sixth, on which day it is generally agreed by the Jews that the law was given, (See Gill on Exodus 19:16)

for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the
people upon Mount Sinai;
which must be understood, consistent with his omnipresence, and is only expressive of some visible display of his power, and of some sensible token of his presence to the people; he was now upon it in the pillar of cloud, but then he would appear in another manner, and descend in a thick cloud and fire, which all the people would see, though they could not see the similitude of anything in it.

Exodus 19:11 In-Context

9 the Lord said to him, Right now I shall come to thee in the darkness of a cloud, (so) that the people hear me speaking to thee, and believe to thee [into] without end (and then they shall always believe thee). Therefore Moses told the words of the people to the Lord,

10 which said to Moses (who said to Moses), Go thou (back) to the people, and make them holy today and tomorrow, and wash they their clothes,

11 and be they ready into the third day; for in the third day the Lord shall come down before all the people on the hill of Sinai. (and be they ready by the third day; for on the third day the Lord shall come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.)

12 And thou shalt set terms to the people, by compass; and thou shalt say to them, Be ye ware, that ye go not up into the hill, neither touch ye the ends thereof; each man that shall touch the hill, shall die by death. (And thou shalt set a boundary for the people, all around the mountain; and thou shalt say to them, Beware, that ye go not up onto the mountain, nor even touch its edges; for anyone who shall touch the mountain, shall die.)

13 Hands shall not touch him, but he shall be oppressed with stones, or he shall be pierced with darts; whether it shall be a beast, or a man, it shall not live; (but) when a clarion shall begin to sound, then go they up into the hill. (No hands shall touch him, but he shall be thrown down with stones, or shall be pierced with arrows; whether it be a beast, or a person, they shall not live; but when the trumpet shall begin to sound, then the people can come up onto the mountain.)