Exodus 31:18

Translations

Modern

When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Traditional

And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Literal

And He gave unto Moses, as He finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Latin

Deditque Dominus Moysi, completis hujuscemodi sermonibus in monte Sinai, duas tabulas testimonii lapideas, scriptas digito Dei.

Original

Hebrew

English

When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Notes

Exodus 31:18

Normally, each party to a covenant received a written copy of the terms of the covenant. So it may be that the two stone tablets were identical, one being God’s copy and the other the people’s copy, to be kept together in the ark of the covenant.
finger of God: See 34:28.

Exodus 31:12–18

The Sabbath was understood to be the unique sign of the covenant (31:13, 16, 17; see also 20:8–11; Isaiah 58:13–14; Jeremiah 17:21–27; Nehemiah 13:15–22). The Sabbath also played an important role in God’s plan to make his people holy. Holy refers to being set apart for God’s special use and sharing his character (Exodus 31:13, 14, 15).

By resting on the Sabbath, the people showed that they belonged to him. They stopped their own work on that day (31:15, 17).

This rest was also a practical way to show trust in God. It showed that they depended on him to provide what they needed (see 20:8–11 and study notes).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Pure Worship Temple Design as a Picture of God's Truth The Written Word

Events

Tabernacle Built

Related verses

Deuteronomy 4:13
He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandments that He wrote on two tablets of stone.
Exodus 32:15–16
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
Deuteronomy 5:22
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
Exodus 24:12
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
2 Corinthians 3:3
It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Exodus 8:19
“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
Luke 11:20
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Deuteronomy 9:9–11
When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water.
Exodus 34:28–29
So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 34:1–4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.
Matthew 12:28
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
2 Corinthians 3:7–8
Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Places

Sinai: Mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Eduth History of Israel Inscriptions New Covenant Sabbath Tabernacle

Topics

Decalogue: Tables of Testimony Decalogue: Written by God Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Moral Law Written on Tables Law: (Contained in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy): Divine Authority For Law: (Contained in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy): Engraved on Stone Mountains: Sinai Stones: Commandments Engraved Upon Table: of Testimony Table: of Testimony were Broken The Law of God: Given: Through Moses Word of God: Inspiration of

Exodus 31:18

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Related verses?

People

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Translations

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Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics