Exodus 19:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."

NIV: Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations."

NASB: He also said to the people, 'Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.'

CSB: He said to the people, "Be prepared by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with women."

NLT: He told them, 'Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.'

KJV: And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

NKJV: And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.”

God is giving instructions to the nation of Israel through His spokesman, Moses (Exodus 19:1–3). The people have a few days to prepare to receive a covenant with the Lord (Exodus 19:4–6). In that time, they are to wash their clothes and consecrate themselves (Exodus 19:7–11, 14). These acts involve cleanliness and a deliberate "setting apart" from the world. This is how God's laws for the nation of Israel are meant to function (Leviticus 20:26; 1 Kings 8:53). The Lord has also created a boundary around Mount Sinai, where Moses meets Him. No person nor animal may go there without God's invitation, on penalty of death (Exodus 19:12–13).

Another part of the consecration was abstinence from sex. This does not imply that sexuality itself is sinful; God created sex as a natural part of marriage between male and female (Genesis 1:27–28; 2:24–25). A few days' abstinence was part of devoting everything the people had to God. For those days, nothing was to matter more than preparing to receive His laws.

Exodus 19:1–15 records God's instructions to Israel at the base of Mount Sinai, also referred to as "the mountain of God" or Horeb. The Lord tells Israel He is going to make them a special nation; this means establishing a covenant with the people. God will meet with Moses only. No man, woman, or animal may otherwise touch the mountain where God comes down.

God instructs the Israelites to prepare for His arrival on Mount Sinai in Horeb. They are to be clean and careful not to come onto the mountain itself. When God appears, He arrives amidst smoke, fire, lightning, earthquakes, and noise. Moses travels to the mountaintop and back, relaying messages about God's will. The first and most important of these are the fundamental principles of Old Testament law: the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–21).

Prior chapters in the book of Exodus described Israel's history after Jacob and his family settled there (Genesis 46:27; 47:10). God used Moses to deliver divine messages and as a conduit for miraculous power. Once Israel was freed (Exodus 12:40–41), the Lord continued to care for them (Exodus 15:22–25; 16:13–15; 17:6, 8–13). In this chapter, Israel prepares to receive God's Law at Mount Sinai. Almost the entire rest of the book (Exodus 20—40) are details about these commands.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 7/31/2025 7:43:42 AM