Exodus 19:16-25

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[a] trembled violently.
19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[b]
20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up
21 and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish.
22 Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
23 Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ ”
24 The LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will 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 21

  • 1. 1 Samuel 2:10; Isaiah 29:6
  • 2. S ver 9
  • 3. Hebrews 12:18-19; Revelation 4:1
  • 4. S Genesis 3:10; 1 Samuel 13:7; 1 Samuel 14:15; 1 Samuel 28:5; Psalms 99:1; Hebrews 12:21
  • 5. S ver 2; Deuteronomy 4:11
  • 6. Exodus 20:18; Psalms 104:32; Isaiah 6:4; Revelation 15:8
  • 7. S Exodus 3:2; Exodus 24:17; Leviticus 9:24; Deuteronomy 4:11,24,33,36">Deuteronomy 4:11,24,33,36; Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 5:4; Deuteronomy 9:3; 1 Kings 18:24,38; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1; Psalms 18:8; Hebrews 12:18
  • 8. S Genesis 19:28; Revelation 9:2
  • 9. Judges 5:5; 2 Samuel 22:8; Psalms 18:7; Psalms 68:8; Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 41:15; Isaiah 64:1; Jeremiah 4:24; Jeremiah 10:10; Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:5; Habakkuk 3:6,10; Haggai 2:6
  • 10. S ver 9; Deuteronomy 4:33; Nehemiah 9:13
  • 11. Psalms 81:7
  • 12. S ver 11
  • 13. Exodus 24:10-11; Exodus 3:5; Numbers 4:20; 1 Samuel 6:19
  • 14. S ver 13
  • 15. Leviticus 10:3
  • 16. 1 Samuel 16:5; 2 Chronicles 29:5; Joel 2:16
  • 17. ver 24; 2 Samuel 6:7
  • 18. ver 11
  • 19. ver 12
  • 20. Exodus 24:1,9
  • 21. ver 22

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint "and all the people"
  • [b]. Or "and God answered him with thunder"
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