Exodus 19:16-25

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.

21 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD ¹¹to look and many of them perish.

22 Also let the priests who come near to the LORD ¹²consecrate themselves, lest the LORD ¹³break out against them."

23 And Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ¹⁴'Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.'"

24 And the LORD said to him, "Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people ¹⁵break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them."

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Exodus 19:16-25 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
• 11. [Exodus 3:6; 1 Samuel 6:19]
• 12. Leviticus 10:3
• 13. 2 Samuel 6:8; 1 Chronicles 13:11
• 14. ver. 12; [Joshua 3:4]
• 15. 2 Samuel 6:8; 1 Chronicles 13:11