Exodus 19:12
10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
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.
13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
14 When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
- WEB
- You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
- ASV
- And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
- DARBY
- And set bounds round about the people, saying, Take heed to yourselves, [not] to go up unto the mountain nor touch the border of it: whatever toucheth the mountain shall certainly be put to death:
- BLB
- And you shall set bounds [for] the people all around, saying, ‘Guard yourselves from going up on the mountain and touching on its base. Everyone who touches on the mountain must surely be put to death.
- ÅB
- Og du skal avmerke en grense for folket rundt omkring og si: Vokt dere for å stige opp på fjellet eller røre ved dets fot! Enhver som rører ved fjellet, skal late livet;
- OTB
- Sett grenser for folket rundt omkring, og advar dem: ‘Vær forsiktige så dere ikke går opp på fjellet eller rører ved kanten. Den som rører ved fjellet skal sannelig dø.
- B1930
- Og du skal avmerke en grense for folket rundt omkring og si: Vokt eder for å stige op på fjellet eller røre ved dets fot! Enhver som rører ved fjellet, skal visselig late livet;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hebrews 12:20–21
For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
Read in contextJoshua 3:4
But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”
Read in contextExodus 19:21
and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 4:9
Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.
Read in contextExodus 10:28
“Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 2:4
and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.
Read in contextExodus 34:12
Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.
Read in contextExodus 19:23
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.’”
Read in context