Exodus 19:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

NIV: The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up

NASB: Then the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

CSB: The Lord came down on Mount Sinai at the top of the mountain. Then the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up.

NLT: The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.

KJV: And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

NKJV: Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Words for mounds of earth and rock are subjective. To people living in Nepal, or the American state of Colorado, the "mountains" of Israel seem like hills. The terrain of the Sinai Peninsula has no mountains the size of the Alps or Himalayas. This doesn't make them small, however. When God comes down to the top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–2), it is entirely covered in smoke, fire, and lightning, complete with thunder, trumpets, and earth tremors (Exodus 19:16–18). This impressive display proclaims God's immense power and holiness (Hebrews 12:18–21).

As Israel prepared to receive their covenant (Exodus 19:5–6), they were given a warning. No person or animal was allowed to touch the mountain itself—on penalty of death (Exodus 19:12–13). Only those directly called by God were allowed to climb it (Exodus 19:24). Moses will spend many days on Sinai hearing from God about His laws for the nation of Israel.

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 6/16/2025 6:19:02 PM