Exodus 19:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord,

NIV: The Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

NASB: Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.' Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

CSB: The Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you and will always believe you." Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord,

NLT: Then the Lord said to Moses, 'I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.' Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

KJV: And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.

NKJV: And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

The Lord will come to Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:2, 11) to communicate His laws to Moses. The mountain will also be filled with fire, lightning, noise, and tremors (Exodus 19:18–19). These elements emphasize the Lord's holiness and terrible power (Psalm 47:2; 97:1–5; Hebrews 12:18–21). The spectacle reminds Israel that Moses is the chosen messenger for this covenant (Exodus 19:24–25). The words God delivers will be part of Israel's national identity forever (Deuteronomy 14:2).

Covering the mountain in smoke also serves to protect the people from fatal exposure to God's glory (Exodus 33:20). It might have allowed them to be close enough to audibly hear God speaking with Moses (Exodus 20:18–22; Deuteronomy 4:12). This reference to people being able to "hear" might also mean paying attention (Deuteronomy 4:10; Zechariah 7:13), thanks to the vivid sights and sounds.

Exodus 19:1–15 records God's instructions to Israel at the base of Mount Sinai, also referred to as "the mountain of God" or Horeb. The Lord tells Israel He is going to make them a special nation; this means establishing a covenant with the people. God will meet with Moses only. No man, woman, or animal may otherwise touch the mountain where God comes down.

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.