Deep Dive

Exodus 19:23

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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.’”

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 23

This chapter introduces the solemnity of the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, which was one of the most striking appearances of the divine glory that ever was in this lower world. We have here, I. The circumstances of time and place (Exo 19:1, Exo 19:2). II. The covenant between God and Israel settled in general. The gracious proposal God made to them (Exo 19:3-6), and their consent to the proposal (Exo 19:7, Exo 19:8). III. Notice given three days before of God's design to give the law out of a thick cloud (Exo 19:9). Orders given to prepare the people to receive the law (Exo 19:10-13), and care taken to execute those orders (Exo 19:14, Exo 19:15). IV. A terrible appearance of God's glory upon mount Sinai (Exo 19:16-20). V. Silence proclaimed, and strict charges given to the people to observe decorum while God spoke to them (Exo 19:21, etc.).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 23

מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) סִינַי (Çîynay, H5514) — Sinai, mountain of Arabia עוּד (ʻûwd, H5749) — to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration);… גָּבַל (gâbal, H1379) — properly, to twist as arope; to bound (as by a line) קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)

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Cross-references

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Exodus 19:12rank 5

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.

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