Exodus 19:13
New International Version
They 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.”

New Living Translation
No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.”

English Standard Version
No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

New King James Version
Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”

New American Standard Bible
No hand shall touch him, but he shall certainly be stoned or shot through; whether animal or person, the violator shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

NASB 1995
‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

NASB 1977
‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

Legacy Standard Bible
No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or surely shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

Amplified Bible
No hand shall touch him [that is, no one shall try to save the guilty party], but the offender must be stoned or shot through [with arrows]; whether man or animal [that touches the mountain], he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

Christian Standard Bible
No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows and not live, whether animal or human. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows. No animal or man will live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.”

American Standard Version
no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

Contemporary English Version
either with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of the person being put to death in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet.

English Revised Version
no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
No one should touch them. They must be stoned or shot with arrows. No matter whether it's an animal or a person, it must not live. The people may go up the mountain [only] when the ram's horn sounds a long blast."

Good News Translation
you must either be stoned or shot with arrows, without anyone touching you. This applies to both people and animals; they must be put to death. But when the trumpet is blown, then the people are to go up to the mountain."

International Standard Version
No hand is to touch that person, but he is certainly to be stoned or shot; whether animal or person, he is not to live.' They are to approach the mountain only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast."

Majority Standard Bible
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.?

NET Bible
No hand will touch him--but he will surely be stoned or shot through, whether a beast or a human being; he must not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast they may go up on the mountain."

New Heart English Bible
No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain."

Webster's Bible Translation
There shall not a hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through: whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

World English Bible
No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
a hand does not come against him, for he is certainly stoned or shot through, whether beast or man—it does not live; in the prolonging of the ram’s horn they go up into the mountain.”

Young's Literal Translation
a hand cometh not against him, for he is certainly stoned or shot through, whether beast or man it liveth not; in the drawing out of the jubilee cornet they go up into the mount.'

Smith's Literal Translation
No hand shall touch upon it, for being stoned, he shall be stoned, or being shot, shall be shot; whether quadruped or man, it shall not live: in protracting the shouting, they shall go up upon the mount.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
No hands shall touch him, but he shall be stoned to death, or shall be shot through with arrows: whether it be beast, or man, he shall not live. When the trumpet shall begin to sound, then let them go up into the mount.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Hands shall not touch him, but he shall be crushed with stones, or he shall be pierced through with darts. Whether it be a beast or a man, he shall not live. For when the trumpet begins to sound, perhaps they might go up toward the mountain.”

New American Bible
No hand shall touch them, but they must be stoned to death or killed with arrows. Whether human being or beast, they must not be allowed to live. Only when the ram’s horn sounds may they go up on the mountain.

New Revised Standard Version
No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
No hand shall touch it, but he shall surely be stoned and hurled down; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live; when the trumpet is silent, then you are permitted to ascend the mountain.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A hand shall not come near it lest, being stoned, one will be stoned, and shot, he will be shot; if it is a beast or if a son of man, he shall not live, and when the trumpet has been silent, you are allowed to go up the mountain.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live; when the ram's horn soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A hand shall not touch it, for every one that touches shall be stoned with stones or shot through with a dart, whether beast or whether man, it shall not live: when the voices and trumpets and cloud depart from off the mountain, they shall come up on the mountain.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel at Mount Sinai
12And 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. 13No 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.” 14When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.…

Cross References
Hebrews 12:18-21
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; / to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. / For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” ...

Numbers 3:10
So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

Numbers 4:15
When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

Numbers 16:35
And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

Deuteronomy 4:11-12
You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. / And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

Deuteronomy 5:22-26
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. / And when you heard the voice out of the darkness while the mountain was blazing with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your elders approached me, / and you said, “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. ...

Joshua 6:20-21
So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it. / With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.

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.

2 Samuel 6:6-7
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

1 Kings 8:10-11
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14
The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

Isaiah 6:4-5
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke. / Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

Ezekiel 1:24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Ezekiel 10:5
The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.

Matthew 17:5-6
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” / When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.


Treasury of Scripture

There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount.

whether

Exodus 21:28,29
If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit…

Leviticus 20:15,16
And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast…

when the trumpet, or cornet

Exodus 19:16,19
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled…

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

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Animal Arrow Arrows Beast Blast Death Drawing Drawn Hand Horn Jubilee Live Mount Mountain Note Permitted Ram's Shot Soundeth Sounds Stoned Surely Touch Touched Trumpet Whether
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Exodus 19
1. The people arrive at Sinai
3. God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount
8. The people are prepared against the third day, for the giving of the law
12. The mountain must not be touched
16. The fearful presence of God upon the mount














No hand shall touch him
This phrase underscores the sanctity and seriousness of the divine command. In the Hebrew context, the word for "touch" (נָגַע, naga) implies a physical contact that is forbidden. The prohibition against touching emphasizes the holiness of the mountain and the severity of disobedience. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of sacred spaces, where divine presence demanded reverence and separation.

but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows
The prescribed punishment for violating the boundary is severe, indicating the gravity of approaching God's holy presence uninvited. The use of "stoned" (סָקַל, saqal) and "shot with arrows" (יָרָה, yarah) reflects ancient judicial practices for capital punishment. This severity serves as a deterrent and a reminder of the holiness and otherness of God, who is not to be approached lightly.

whether man or beast
This phrase highlights the impartiality of God's law; it applies to all living beings. The inclusion of "beast" (בְּהֵמָה, behemah) signifies that the sanctity of the mountain extends beyond human transgression to all of creation. This reflects the biblical theme of God's dominion over all life and the order He establishes.

he must not live
The consequence of death for crossing the boundary underscores the seriousness of God's command. The Hebrew word for "live" (חָיָה, chayah) is often used in the context of life given by God, and here it is clear that life is forfeited by disobedience. This serves as a stark reminder of the holiness of God and the life-and-death seriousness of His commands.

When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast
The "ram's horn" (שׁוֹפָר, shofar) is a significant instrument in Israelite worship and warfare, symbolizing God's voice and presence. The "long blast" (מָשַׁךְ, mashak) serves as a divine signal, marking the time when the people may approach the mountain. This reflects the order and timing in God's plan, where He sets the terms for when and how He is to be approached.

they may go up the mountain
The permission to "go up" (עָלָה, alah) signifies a transition from prohibition to invitation. It marks a moment of divine grace, where God allows His people to draw near. This ascent is not just physical but spiritual, symbolizing a closer relationship with God. It reflects the biblical theme of God desiring communion with His people, but on His terms and timing.

(13) There shall not an hand touch it.--This translation gives an entirely wrong sense. The meaning is, beyond all doubt, "There shall not a hand touch him," i.e., the transgressor. To stop him and seize him, another person must have transgressed the bounds, and so have repeated the act which was forbidden. This course was to be avoided, and punishment was to be inflicted on the transgressor by stoning him, or transfixing him with arrows, from within the barrier.

Whether it be beast or man.--Though beasts are innocent of wrong-doing, and are thus no proper objects of punishment, yet the law of God requires their slaughter in certain eases--e.g. (1) when they are dangerous (Exodus 21:28); (2) when they have become polluted (Leviticus 20:15); (3) When their owner's sin is appropriately punished through their loss (Exodus 13:13). In the present case, it could only be through the culpable carelessness of an owner that a beast could get inside the barrier.

When the trumpet soundeth long.--Comp. Exodus 19:19.

They shall come up to the mount.--Rather, into the mount. The expression used is identical with that of the preceding verse, and there rendered "go up into the mount." Thus the act forbidden in Exodus 19:12 is allowed in Exodus 19:13; it is not, however, allowed to the same persons. The word "they" (hemah) in this present place is emphatic, and refers to certain privileged persons, as Moses and Aaron (Exodus 19:24), not to the people generally. . . .

Verse 13. - There shall not an hand touch it. Rather, "there shall not an hand touch him." The transgressor shall not be seized and apprehended, for that would involve the repetition of the offence by his arrester, who must overpass the "bounds" set by Moses, in order to make the arrest. Instead of seizing him, they were to kill him with stones or arrows from within the "bounds," and the same was to be done, if any stray beast approached the mountain. When the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. By translating the same Hebrew phrase differently here and in verse 12, the A. V. avoids the difficulty which most commentators see in this passage. According to the apparent construction, the people are first told that they may, on no account, ascend the mountain (ver. ,12), and then that they may do so, so soon as the trumpet sounds long (ver. 13). But they do not ascend at that time (ver. 19), nor are they allowed to do so - on the contrary, Moses is charged anew to prevent it (ver. 21-25); nor indeed do the people ever ascend, but only Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy eiders (Exodus 24:1, 2). What, then, is the permission here given? When we scrutinise the passage closely, we observe that the pronoun "they" is in the Hebrew, emphatic, and, therefore, unlikely to refer to "the people" of ver. 12. To whom then does it refer? Not, certainly, to "the Elders" of ver. 7, which would be too remote an antecedent, but to those chosen persons who are in the writer's mind, whom God was about to allow to ascend. Even these were not allowed to go up until summoned by the prolonged blast of the trumpet.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
No
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

hand
יָ֗ד (yāḏ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

shall touch him,
תִגַּ֨ע (ṯig·ga‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

but
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he shall surely
סָק֤וֹל (sā·qō·wl)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5619: To stone, put to death by stoning

be stoned
יִסָּקֵל֙ (yis·sā·qêl)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5619: To stone, put to death by stoning

or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

shot
יָרֹ֣ה (yā·rōh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

with arrows—
יִיָּרֶ֔ה (yî·yā·reh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

whether
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

man
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

or
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

beast,
בְּהֵמָ֥ה (bə·hê·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

he must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

live.’
יִחְיֶ֑ה (yiḥ·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

Only when the ram’s horn
הַיֹּבֵ֔ל (hay·yō·ḇêl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3104: A ram, ram's horn (a wind instrument)

sounds a long blast
בִּמְשֹׁךְ֙ (bim·šōḵ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4900: To draw, drag

may they
הֵ֖מָּה (hêm·māh)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

go up
יַעֲל֥וּ (ya·‘ă·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

the mountain.”
בָהָֽר׃ (ḇā·hār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country


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OT Law: Exodus 19:13 No hand shall touch him but he (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 19:12
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