Exodus 19:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.

NIV: As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

NASB: When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder.

CSB: As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

NLT: As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply.

KJV: And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

NKJV: And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.

Israel's experience at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–2) was a spectacle to all senses. They saw fire and lightning, smelled smoke, heard thunder and trumpets, and felt the shaking earth (Exodus 19:16–18). In this way, the Lord emphasizes His holiness and absolute power (Hebrews 12:18–21). To see God (Exodus 33:20) or touch His mountain (Exodus 19:12–13) would result in death (Exodus 19:21). For now, His purpose is to emphasize man's sin and separation from their Creator. In the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–33; Hebrews 8), mankind will see God's mercy and love fully expressed (Hebrews 12:22–25).

Moses communicates with God (Exodus 19:3, 20) as His spokesman. During this time, the Lord will deliver His laws for the nation of Israel. The first of these are the fundamental 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.

Accessed 7/14/2025 4:35:42 PM