Exodus 19:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, [that ye] go [not] up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

Complete Jewish Bible:

You are to set limits for the people all around; and say, 'Be careful not to go up on the mountain or even touch its base; whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death.

Berean Standard Bible:

And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

American Standard Version:

And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thou shalt set bounds^{H1379} unto the people^{H5971} round about^{H5439}, saying^{H559}, Take heed^{H8104} to yourselves, that ye go not up^{H5927} into the mount^{H2022}, or touch^{H5060} the border^{H7097} of it: whosoever toucheth^{H5060} the mount^{H2022} shall be surely^{H4191} put to death^{H4191}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 19:12

**Themes:**

1. **Holiness and Separation:** The verse emphasizes the holiness of God and the need for separation between the sacred and the profane. By setting boundaries around Mount Sinai, God establishes a clear demarcation between His divine presence and the Israelite people.

2. **Respect for Divine Authority:** This command underscores the importance of respecting God's authority and the serious consequences of disobedience. The people are warned that violation of these boundaries is a capital offense, highlighting the gravity of the offense.

3. **Reverence and Fear of God:** The instruction to not touch the mountain or approach it without permission instills a sense of reverence and fear of the Lord, recognizing His power and the potential danger of careless or presumptuous actions in His presence.

**Historical Context:**

Exodus 19:12 is set within the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. After being delivered from slavery, the people have arrived at Mount Sinai, where God will give Moses the Law, including the Ten Commandments. This event marks a pivotal moment in the formation of the Israelite nation and their covenant relationship with God.

The verse occurs just before the theophany at Mount Sinai, where God reveals Himself to the people in a dramatic display of power, with thunder, lightning, smoke, and the sound of a trumpet. The establishment of boundaries serves to protect the people from the overwhelming holiness of God, which could consume them if they came too close without proper preparation or authorization.

This moment is also significant because it is here that God constitutes Israel as a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6), setting them apart from other nations to be His special people, bound by a unique covenant that includes adherence to the Law that will be given.

In summary, Exodus 19:12 reflects themes of holiness, respect for divine authority, and reverence for God, within the historical context of God establishing His covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, which is foundational to the nation's identity and religious practice.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1379
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּבַל
   Transliteration: gâbal
   Pronunciation: gaw-bal'
   Description: a primitive root; also as a denominative from גְּבוּל; properly, to twist as arope; to bound (as by a line); be border, set (bounds about).
   
2. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5439
   There are 282 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָבִיב
   Transliteration: çâbîyb
   Pronunciation: saw-beeb'
   Description: or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side.
   
4. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8104
   There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַר
   Transliteration: shâmar
   Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
   
6. Strong's Number: H5927
   There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָלָה
   Transliteration: ʻâlâh
   Pronunciation: aw-law'
   Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2022
   There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הַר
   Transliteration: har
   Pronunciation: har
   Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5060
   There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָגַע
   Transliteration: nâgaʻ
   Pronunciation: naw-gah'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7097
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָצֶה
   Transliteration: qâtseh
   Pronunciation: kaw-tseh'
   Description: or (negative only) קֵצֶה; from קָצָה; (used in a great variety of applications and idioms; compare קֵץ); an extremity; [idiom] after, border, brim, brink, edge, end, (in-) finite, frontier, outmost coast, quarter, shore, (out-) side, [idiom] some, ut(-ter-) most (part).
   
10. Strong's Number: H4191
    There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוּת
    Transliteration: mûwth
    Pronunciation: mooth
    Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.