Exodus 19:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them."

NIV: Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them."

NASB: Also have the priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.'

CSB: Even the priests who come near the Lord must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out in anger against them."

NLT: Even the priests who regularly come near to the Lord must purify themselves so that the Lord does not break out and destroy them.'

KJV: And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.

NKJV: Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”

Those not invited on Sinai during the delivery of the covenant (Exodus 19:5–6) would be punished by death (Exodus 19:12–13). Even when Moses spends long periods on the mountain (Exodus 24:16, 18; 32:1), the people may not give in to curiosity (Exodus 19:21). This even applies to priests; in fact, they have an even more strict requirement.

This covenant will establish priests from Aaron's line in the tribe of Levi (Exodus 28:1–3; Numbers 1:50–53). However, Israel already has some men acting as priests. God commands them to consecrate themselves—perhaps in a more determined and overt way than how the people were recently consecrated (Exodus 19:10, 14). The term "priest" generally means someone with special access to a deity. If these men presume to come close to God, they must do so with the right attitude (Exodus 19:24).

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 6/1/2025 3:59:07 PM