Exodus 19
Legacy Standard Bible
Israel at Sinai
19 (A)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of (B)Sinai. 2 Then they set out from (C)Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of (D)the mountain.
3 Now Moses went up to God, and (E)Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘(F)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on (G)eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 So now then, (H)if you will indeed listen to My voice and (I)keep My covenant, then you shall be (J)My treasured possession among all the peoples, for (K)all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me (L)a kingdom of priests and (M)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
7 (N)So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him. 8 (O)And all the people answered together and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh. 9 Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in (P)a thick cloud, so that the (Q)people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
10 Yahweh also said to Moses, “Go to the people and (R)set them apart as holy today and tomorrow, and let them (S)wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on (T)the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘[a]Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; (U)whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but (V)he shall surely be stoned or surely [b]shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to (W)the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and set the people apart as holy, and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
16 (X)So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were [c]thunder and lightning flashes and a [d]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 [e]foot of the mountain.
Yahweh Descends on Mount Sinai
18 (Y)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Yahweh descended upon it (Z)in fire; and its smoke ascended like (AA)the smoke of a furnace, and (AB)the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 And the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder; then Moses spoke and (AC)God answered him with [f]thunder. 20 (AD)And Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go down, [g]warn the people, lest (AE)they break through to Yahweh to see, and many of them [h]perish. 22 Also let the (AF)priests who come near to Yahweh set themselves apart as holy, lest Yahweh break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [i]warned us, saying, ‘(AG)Set bounds about the mountain, and set it apart as holy.’” 24 Then Yahweh said to him, “[j]Go down and come up again, (AH)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the (AI)priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest He break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Footnotes
- Exodus 19:12 Lit Take heed to yourselves
- Exodus 19:13 With arrows
- Exodus 19:16 Lit sounds
- Exodus 19:16 Lit heavy
- Exodus 19:17 Lit lower part
- Exodus 19:19 Or a voice; lit a sound
- Exodus 19:21 Lit testify to
- Exodus 19:21 Lit fall
- Exodus 19:23 Lit testified to
- Exodus 19:24 Lit Go, descend
Exodus 19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai
19 On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.(A) 3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites:(B) 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.(C) 5 Now, therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine,(D) 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”(E)
7 So Moses went, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 The people all answered as one, “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.(F) 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.”
The People Consecrated
When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord,(G) 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(H) 11 and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.(I) 12 You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death.(J) 13 No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows;[a] whether animal or human being, they shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled.(K) 17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now all of Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently.(L) 19 As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder.(M) 20 When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the Lord; otherwise many of them will perish.(N) 22 Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(O) 23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.’ ”(P) 24 The Lord said to him, “Go down, then come back up and bring Aaron with you, but do not let either the priests or the people break through to come up to the Lord; otherwise he will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Footnotes
- 19.13 Heb lacks with arrows
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.