Keraia
Exodus 19

Exodus 19:23

The LORD Visits Sinai · Exodus 19:16–25
Read Exodus 19

Translations

Modern
But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
Traditional
And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
Literal
And Moses said to YHWH, “The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, for You yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.’”
Latin
Dixitque Moyses ad Dominum: Non poterit vulgus ascendere in montem Sinai: tu enim testificatus es, et jussisti, dicens: Pone terminos circa montem, et sanctifica illum.

Original

Hebrew
English
But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

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.

Events

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Places

Sinai: Mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments

Glossary

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

Topics

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