Exodus 19:8

8 The people all answered as one: "Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

Exodus 19:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:8

And all the people answered together
By their heads and representatives, the elders, summoned before Moses, to whom he declared the whole will of God; or this being communicated by them to their respective tribes and families, they were all of one mind; there was not a contradicting voice among them, they all gave the same answer, or all united in returning for answer what follows:

all that the Lord hath spoken we will do;
obey his voice in all things he directs unto, or commands to be done, and keep the covenant he should make with them, and observe whatever was required on their parts; which was well spoken, if with the heart, and if, under a consciousness of their own weakness, they had expressed their desire of dependence upon the grace of God to enable them to perform, see ( Deuteronomy 5:28 Deuteronomy 5:29 ) . The Septuagint version adds, "and we will hear", or be obedient, as in ( Exodus 24:7 ) :

and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord;
not for his information, who knew very well what they had said, but for the discharge of his office as a mediator and messenger between God and them: this, according to Jarchi, was on the third day of the month.

Exodus 19:8 In-Context

6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites."
7 So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.
8 The people all answered as one: "Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
9 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after." When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord,
10 the Lord said to Moses: "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.