1On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt – on that very day – they came to the Desert of Sinai.2After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.3Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:4“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.5Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,6you[1] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’7So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.8The people all responded together, ‘We will do everything the Lord has said.’ So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.9The Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.’ Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.10And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Make them wash their clothes11and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.12Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, “Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.13They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.” Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.’14After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.15Then he said to the people, ‘Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.’16On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.17Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[2] trembled violently.19As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[3]20The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up21and the Lord said to him, ‘Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish.22Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.’23Moses said to the Lord, ‘The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, “Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.” ’24The Lord replied, ‘Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.’25So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Exodus 19
English Standard Version
Israel at Mount Sinai
1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. (Nu 33:15)2They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, (Ex 3:1; Ex 17:1; Ex 17:8)3while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: (Ex 3:4; Ex 20:21; Ac 7:38)4‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. (De 29:2; De 32:11; Isa 63:9; Re 12:14)5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; (Ex 9:29; De 7:6; De 10:14; De 14:2; De 26:18; Job 41:11; Ps 24:1; Ps 50:12; Ps 135:4; Mal 3:17; 1Co 10:26; Tit 2:14)6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” (Le 20:26; De 7:6; De 14:21; De 26:19; De 28:9; Isa 62:12; 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9; Re 1:6; Re 5:10; Re 20:6)7So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.8All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. (Ex 24:3; Ex 24:7; De 5:27; De 26:17)9And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, (Ex 14:31; Ex 20:21; Ex 24:16; De 4:11; De 4:12; De 4:36; Ps 18:11; Ps 97:2; Mt 17:5; Joh 12:28)10the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments (Ge 35:2; Le 11:44; Le 15:5; Jos 3:5)11and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. (Ex 34:5; De 33:2)12And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. (Heb 12:20)13No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;[1] whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” (Ex 19:16; Ex 19:19)14So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. (Ex 19:3; Ex 19:10)15And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” (Ex 19:11; 1Sa 21:4; 1Co 7:5)16On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. (Ex 19:9; Ex 19:13; Ex 19:15; Ps 77:18; Heb 12:18; Heb 12:21; Re 4:5; Re 8:5; Re 11:19)17Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. (De 4:10)18Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. (Ex 24:17; Jud 5:5; Ps 68:8; Ps 144:5; Isa 6:4; Heb 12:26; Re 15:8)19And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. (Ex 19:16; Ne 9:13; Ps 81:7)20The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.21And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. (Ex 3:6; 1Sa 6:19)22Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” (Le 10:3; 2Sa 6:8; 1Ch 13:11)23And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” (Ex 19:12; Jos 3:4)24And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” (2Sa 6:8; 1Ch 13:11)25So Moses went down to the people and told them.