Exodus 19:1-17

Moses on Sinai

1 ¹In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of ²Sinai.

2 When they set out from ³Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of ⁴the mountain.

3 Moses went up to God, and ⁵the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:

4 '⁶You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on ⁷eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself.

5 'Now then, ⁸if you will indeed obey My voice and ⁹keep My covenant, then you shall be ¹⁰My own possession among all the peoples, for ¹¹all the earth is Mine;

6 and you shall be to Me ¹²a kingdom of priests and ¹³a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

7 ¹⁴So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him.

8 ¹⁵All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.

9 The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in ¹⁶a thick cloud, so that the ¹⁷people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.

10 The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and ¹⁸consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them ¹⁹wash their garments;

11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on ²⁰the 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; ²¹whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

13 'No hand shall touch him, but ²²he 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 ²³the 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 ²⁴So 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.

Exodus 19:1-17 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. Exodus 12:6, 51; Exodus 16:1
• 2. Deuteronomy 1:6; Deuteronomy 4:10, 15; Deuteronomy 5:2
• 3. Exodus 17:1; Numbers 33:15
• 4. Exodus 3:1, 12; Exodus 18:5
• 5. Exodus 3:4
• 6. Deuteronomy 29:2
• 7. Deuteronomy 32:11; Revelation 12:14
• 8. Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 5:2
• 9. Psalms 78:10
• 10. Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18; Psalms 135:4; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9
• 11. Exodus 9:29; Deuteronomy 10:14; Job 41:11; Psalms 50:12; 1 Corinthians 10:26
• 12. 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10
• 13. Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:21; Deuteronomy 26:19; Isaiah 62:12
• 14. Exodus 4:29, 30
• 15. Exodus 4:31; Exodus 24:3, 7; Deuteronomy 5:27; Deuteronomy 26:17
• 16. Exodus 19:16; Exodus 24:15, 16; Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 99:7
• 17. Deuteronomy 4:12, 36
• 18. Leviticus 11:44, 45
• 19. Genesis 35:2; Leviticus 15:5; Numbers 8:7, 21; Numbers 19:19; Revelation 22:14
• 20. Exodus 19:16
• 21. Hebrews 12:20
• 22. Hebrews 12:20
• 23. Exodus 19:17
• 24. Heb 12:18, 19, 21

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "on this day"
• [b]. Or "special treasure"
• [c]. Lit "Take heed to yourselves"
• [d]. I.e. with arrows
• [e]. Lit "sounds"
• [f]. Lit "lower part"