Exodus 19:23
New International Version
Moses 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.’”

New Living Translation
“But LORD,” Moses protested, “the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’”

English Standard Version
And 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.’”

Berean Standard Bible
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.’”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’”

NASB 1995
Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.’”

NASB 1977
And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for Thou didst warn us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain, and set it apart as holy.’”

Amplified Bible
Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, because You warned us, saying, ‘Set barriers around the mountain and consecrate it.’”

Christian Standard Bible
Moses responded to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since you warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consecrate it.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Moses responded to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since You warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Moses replied, "The people cannot come up the mountain. You warned us to stay away because it is holy."

English Revised Version
And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Moses said to the LORD, "The people can't come up Mount Sinai, because you warned us yourself to mark off a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy."

Good News Translation
Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up, because you commanded us to consider the mountain sacred and to mark a boundary around it."

International Standard Version
Moses told the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai because you warned us: 'Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.'"

Majority Standard Bible
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.??

NET Bible
Moses said to the LORD, "The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, because you solemnly warned us, 'Set boundaries for the mountain and set it apart.'"

New Heart English Bible
Moses said to God, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said to the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

World English Bible
Moses said to Yahweh, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Moses says to YHWH, “The people [are] unable to come up to Mount Sinai, for You have protested to us, saying, Make a border [for] the mountain, then you have sanctified it.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith unto Jehovah, 'The people is unable to come up unto mount Sinai, for Thou -- Thou hast protested to us, saying, Make a border for the mount, then thou hast sanctified it.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will say to Jehovah, The people shall not be able to come up to mount Sinai, for thou didst protest to us, saying, Set bounds to the mountain, and consecrate it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses said to the Lord: The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou did charge, and command, saying: Set limits about the mount, and sanctify it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Moses said to the Lord: “The people are not able to ascend to Mount Sinai. For you testified, and you commanded, saying: ‘Set limits around the mountain, and sanctify it.’ ”

New American Bible
But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot go up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying: Set limits around the mountain to make it sacred.”

New Revised Standard Version
Moses said to the LORD, “The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Moses said to the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst warn us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain and sanctify it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe said to LORD JEHOVAH, “The people cannot ascend the mountain of Sinai because you testified with us and you said to me, “Set boundaries to the mountain and hallow it.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses said unto the LORD: 'The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst charge us, saying: Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses said to God, The people will not be able to approach to the mount of Sina, for thou hast solemnly charged us, saying, Set bounds to the mountain and sanctify it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Visits Sinai
22Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” 23But 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.’” 24And 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.”…

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.” ...

Deuteronomy 5:5
At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said:

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.

Exodus 24:1-2
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance. / Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”

Exodus 20:18-21
When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. / “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” / “Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.” ...

Numbers 18:22
No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Deuteronomy 9:19
For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.

1 Kings 8:12
Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

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.

Psalm 68:8
the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

Psalm 97:2-5
Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. / Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side. / His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles. ...

Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.

Revelation 11:19
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.


Treasury of Scripture

And Moses said to the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for you charged us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

set bounds

Exodus 19:12
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:

Joshua 3:4,5
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore…

Jump to Previous
Apart Bounds Charge Consecrate Holy Limits Making Marking Moses Mount Mountain Orders Round Sanctify Sinai Testified Thou Thyself Unable Warned
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Apart Bounds Charge Consecrate Holy Limits Making Marking Moses Mount Mountain Orders Round Sanctify Sinai Testified Thou Thyself Unable Warned
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














But Moses said to the LORD
Moses, as the mediator between God and the Israelites, often communicated directly with the LORD. This reflects his unique role as a prophet and leader. His direct dialogue with God emphasizes the intimate relationship he had with the Divine, which is a recurring theme throughout the Pentateuch. Moses' role as a mediator foreshadows the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ, who intercedes on behalf of humanity.

The people cannot come up Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai is a significant geographical location where God delivered the Ten Commandments. The mountain is traditionally identified with Jebel Musa in the Sinai Peninsula. The prohibition against the people ascending the mountain underscores the holiness of God and the need for separation between the divine and the profane. This separation is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, highlighting the need for purity and reverence in approaching God.

for You solemnly warned us
God's warnings are a testament to His desire for order and obedience among His people. The solemnity of the warning indicates the seriousness with which God views His commands. This reflects the broader biblical principle that God's instructions are not to be taken lightly, as disobedience can lead to severe consequences, as seen in the story of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2).

‘Put a boundary around the mountain
The boundary serves as a physical and symbolic barrier, emphasizing the sanctity of the mountain where God's presence dwells. This act of setting boundaries is a precursor to the laws and commandments that would later define the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It also illustrates the concept of sacred space, which is central to the construction of the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

and set it apart as holy.’”
Holiness is a central theme in the Bible, denoting something that is set apart for God's purposes. The mountain being set apart as holy signifies that it is a place of divine encounter. This concept of holiness is foundational to understanding the nature of God and His expectations for His people. The call to holiness is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are urged to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16), reflecting the continuity of this divine attribute throughout Scripture.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and to mediate His covenant with them.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The God of Israel, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and is establishing His covenant with them at Mount Sinai.

3. Mount Sinai
The mountain where God gave the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses. It is a place of divine revelation and holiness.

4. The Israelites
The people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive God's law.

5. The Boundary
A physical and spiritual demarcation set by God around Mount Sinai to prevent the people from approaching His holy presence unprepared.
Teaching Points
Reverence for God's Holiness
God's holiness requires boundaries. Just as the Israelites were instructed to respect the boundary around Mount Sinai, we must approach God with reverence and respect for His holiness.

Obedience to God's Commands
Moses' response to God shows his obedience and understanding of God's instructions. We are called to obey God's commands, recognizing that they are given for our protection and sanctification.

The Role of Mediators
Moses acted as a mediator between God and the Israelites. This foreshadows the ultimate mediation of Jesus Christ, who bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity.

Consecration and Preparation
The act of consecrating the mountain and setting boundaries signifies the need for spiritual preparation when approaching God. We must prepare our hearts and lives to meet with God.

The Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Understanding the seriousness of God's commands and the consequences of disobedience leads to a healthy fear and respect for God.(23) The people cannot come up.--Moses probably means that they cannot do so unwittingly; he

Does not contemplate the case of an intentional trespass. But it was this which God knew to be contemplated, and was desirous of preventing.

Verse 23. - The people cannot come up. Moses can only have meant, that the people could not approach the mount unwittingly, since the fence commanded (ver. 12) was made. But to scale the fence, or break through it, was of course possible. (See ver 13.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Moses
מֹשֶׁה֙ (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“The people
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

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

come up
לַעֲלֹ֖ת (la·‘ă·lōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

Mount
הַ֣ר (har)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

Sinai,
סִינָ֑י (sî·nāy)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5514: Sinai -- the mountain where the law was given

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

You
אַתָּ֞ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

solemnly warned
הַעֵדֹ֤תָה (ha·‘ê·ḏō·ṯāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5749: To duplicate, repeat, to protest, testify, to encompass, restore

us,
בָּ֙נוּ֙ (bā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

‘Put a boundary around
הַגְבֵּ֥ל (haḡ·bêl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1379: To twist as a, rope, to bound

the mountain
הָהָ֖ר (hā·hār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

and set it apart as holy.’”
וְקִדַּשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (wə·qid·daš·tōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated


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