Exodus 19:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the Lord said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish.

NIV: and the Lord said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish.

NASB: Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 'Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them perish.

CSB: The Lord directed Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the Lord; otherwise many of them will die.

NLT: Then the Lord told Moses, 'Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the Lord, or they will die.

KJV: And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.

NKJV: And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish.

Moses has been called to Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–3) where he will meet with God (Exodus 19:9). There, he will receive the laws of the covenant between the Lord and Israel (Exodus 19:5–6). This will require Moses to be on Sinai for days at a time (Exodus 24:16), sometimes more than a month (Exodus 24:18; 32:1). The Israelites have already shown a lack of patience (Exodus 15:22–25; 16:2–3). So, the Lord gives a reminder that they are not to approach the mountain unless directly invited (Exodus 19:12–13). The concern is that they will "break through" caution and rules and come onto Sinai anyway. Such curiosity would disrespect God, at best, and result in instant death, at worst (Exodus 33:20).

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 6/17/2025 8:59:26 AM