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Exodus 19:23

MosesMount Sinai

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.

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

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.’”

24 And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

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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
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.’”
KJV
And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
WEB
Moses said to the LORD, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
ASV
And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
DARBY
And Moses said to Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou hast testified to us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain, and hallow it.
BLB
And Moses said to YHWH, “The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, for You yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.’”
ÅB
Da sa Moses til Herren: Folket kan ikke stige opp på Sinai berg; for du har selv advart oss og sagt at vi skulle avmerke en grense om fjellet og hellige det.
OTB
Moses sa til Herren: “Folket kan ikke gå opp på Sinai-fjellet, fordi du selv advarte oss: ‘Sett grenser rundt fjellet og hellige det.’”
B1930
Da sa Moses til Herren: Folket kan ikke stige op på Sinai berg; for du har selv advart oss og sagt at vi skulde avmerke en grense om fjellet og hellige det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 19:12

    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

  • Joshua 3:4–5

    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 context