Exodus 19:10-23

10 The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and ¹consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them ²wash their garments;

11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on ³the 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; ⁴whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

13 'No hand shall touch him, but ⁵he 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 ⁶the 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 ⁷So 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 ⁸Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because * * the LORD descended upon it ⁹in fire; and its smoke ascended like ¹⁰the smoke of a furnace, and ¹¹the whole mountain quaked violently.

19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and ¹²God answered him with thunder.

20 ¹³The 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 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, so that ¹⁴they do not break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

22 "Also let the ¹⁵priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, or else the LORD will break out against them."

23 Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot * come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, '¹⁶Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.' "

Exodus 19:10-23 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. Leviticus 11:44, 45
• 2. Genesis 35:2; Leviticus 15:5; Numbers 8:7, 21; Numbers 19:19; Revelation 22:14
• 3. Exodus 19:16
• 4. Hebrews 12:20
• 5. Hebrews 12:20
• 6. Exodus 19:17
• 7. Heb 12:18, 19, 21
• 8. Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 104:32; Psalms 144:5
• 9. Exodus 3:2; Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 5:4; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Hebrews 12:18
• 10. Genesis 15:17; Genesis 19:28
• 11. Judges 5:5; Psalms 68:7, 8; Jeremiah 4:24
• 12. Psalms 81:7
• 13. Nehemiah 9:13
• 14. Exodus 3:5; 1 Samuel 6:19
• 15. Exodus 19:24; Exodus 24:5; Leviticus 10:3; Leviticus 21:6-8
• 16. Exodus 19:12

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Take heed to yourselves"
• [b]. I.e. with arrows
• [c]. Lit "sounds"
• [d]. Lit "lower part"
• [e]. Or "trembled"
• [f]. Or "a voice;" lit "a sound"
• [g]. Lit "testify to"
• [h]. Lit "fall"
• [i]. Lit "testified to"