Exodus 19:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

NIV: On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.

NASB: So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

CSB: On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered.

NLT: On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

At Mount Sinai, God has commanded the people of Israel to prepare themselves. With consecration, washing, and abstinence, they were making ready to receive His laws. These would come through Moses, while God's presence would be veiled by clouds (Exodus 19:1–15).

When the third day comes, the scene is vivid and terrifying. The mountain is obscured with clouds filled with lightning and thunder. The clouds themselves are composed of smoke, as the mountain is also bathed in fire (Exodus 19:18). As these elements rage, the earth shakes and the people hear a sound like a trumpet blast. Their fear is no accident; this phase of God's revelation emphasizes His absolute power and holiness (Hebrews 12:18–21). A proper relationship with the Lord starts by recognizing His awesome omnipotence (Proverbs 1:7). Only after this will His grace and mercy ensure that "fear" of God is grounded in reverence, not terror (Hebrews 4:16; 12:22–25).

At this trumpet signal, the people will assemble at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 19:17). They will wait there while Moses and a select few others (Exodus 19:21–24) climb into the wall of clouds to speak with God. The first information coming from those meetings will be the basis for Israel's entire code of laws: the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–21).

Exodus 19:16–25 depicts the Lord God descending onto a mountain to give the Law to Israel. This involved dramatic amounts of smoke, fire, lightning, tremors, and noise. Under the Lord's instruction, Moses makes multiple trips up and down Mount Sinai to relay messages from God. Records of the Law will make up nearly the entire remaining book of Exodus.

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.