Exodus 19:21

Translations

Modern

…and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.

Traditional

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.

Literal

And YHWH said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to YHWH to see, and many from them fall.

Latin

…dixit ad eum: Descende, et contestare populum: ne forte velit transcendere terminos ad videndum Dominum, et pereat ex eis plurima multitudo.

Original

Hebrew

English

…and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.

Notes

Exodus 19:21–25

The repeated warnings that no one should break through and approach the Lord made the scene even more serious. The people had just seen powerful signs of God’s presence.

God is completely holy and far above his creation (transcendent, meaning beyond human limits). People must approach him in the way he commands. They may not come to him in their own way.

Exodus 19:16–25

The final preparation phase included events that helped people accept the covenant. Some of the experiences were visual: lightning and a cloud (19:16), smoke and fire (19:18). The people also heard thunder, a ram’s horn, and the voice of God (19:16, 19). The entire mountain shook violently (19:18). In the Bible, such unusual events are often associated with a theophany, which is a visible appearance of God’s holy presence.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses God’s Covenant with David God’s Covenants

Events

Ten Commandments Givenc. 1491 BC

Related verses

1 Samuel 6:19
But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.
Exodus 3:5
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Hebrews 12:28–29
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Exodus 3:3
So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”
Exodus 33:20
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
Exodus 19:12–13
And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Book of Exodus Covenant Criminal Law and Punishment Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel John the Baptist Miracle Mount Sinai Mount, Mountain

Topics

Curiosity: To See God God: Appearances of To Moses, at Sinai Law: (Contained in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy): Divine Authority For Reverence for God Sinai: A Mountain in the Peninsula East of the Red Sea: The Law Delivered to Moses Upon The Law of Moses: None to Approach the Mount While God Gave Worship: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Exodus 19:21

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