Bible Compass
Log inGet started
Back to the chapter

Exodus 19:21

Moses

19 And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,

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.

22 Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”

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 the whole chapter

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 the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.
KJV
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
WEB
The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
ASV
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.
DARBY
And Jehovah said to Moses, Go down, testify to the people that they break not through to Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.
BLB
And YHWH said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to YHWH to see, and many from them fall.
ÅB
Og Herren sa til Moses: Stig ned og advar folket, så de ikke trenger seg fram til Herren for å se ham, for da kommer mange av dem til å falle.
OTB
Herren sa til Moses: “Gå ned og advar folket om ikke å trenge seg frem for å se Herren, ellers vil mange av dem omkomme.
B1930
Og Herren sa til Moses: Stig ned og advar folket, så de ikke trenger sig frem til Herren for å se ham, for da kommer mange av dem til å falle.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 6:19

    But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 3:5

    “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

    Read in context

  • Hebrews 12:28–29

    Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 19:12–13

    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.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 3:3

    So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”

    Read in context

  • Exodus 33:20

    But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 5:1

    Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

    Read in context