Exodus 19:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

ADONAI said to Moshe, "Go down and warn the people not to force their way through to ADONAI to see him; if they do, many of them will perish.

Berean Standard Bible:

and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD^{H3068} said^{H559} unto Moses^{H4872}, Go down^{H3381}, charge^{H5749} the people^{H5971}, lest they break through^{H2040} unto the LORD^{H3068} to gaze^{H7200}, and many^{H7227} of them perish^{H5307}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 19:21

Exodus 19:21 is a pivotal verse set within the broader context of the Israelites' encounter with God at Mount Sinai following their exodus from Egypt. This event marks a significant moment in the narrative of the Hebrew Bible, as it is here that God chooses to reveal His law to the people through Moses. The verse captures a divine command to Moses to caution the Israelites against the danger of unregulated proximity to the sacred presence of God.

In this verse, God instructs Moses to descend from the mountain and warn the people not to force their way toward the divine presence out of curiosity or unauthorized worship. The command emphasizes the holiness and otherness of God, who is surrounded by strict boundaries to prevent the people from inadvertently transgressing and facing fatal consequences. This reflects the theme of holiness and the respect for divine boundaries that permeates the Pentateuch.

Historically, this passage underscores the ancient Israelite understanding of the divine as both immanent and transcendent—God is with His people, yet He is also set apart in a way that demands reverence and proper approach. The instructions given to Moses highlight the need for mediation between the divine and the human, a role that Moses fulfills. It also serves as a prelude to the giving of the Ten Commandments and the establishment of the Mosaic covenant, which will shape Israelite religion and ethics for generations to come.

In summary, Exodus 19:21 reflects the themes of divine holiness, the need for proper mediation, and the establishment of religious boundaries. It captures a moment of tension and anticipation as the Israelites stand on the threshold of receiving God's law, while also serving as a stark reminder of the potential perils of approaching the divine without due respect and preparation.

*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: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3381
   There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרַד
   Transliteration: yârad
   Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
   Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5749
   There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוּד
   Transliteration: ʻûwd
   Pronunciation: ood
   Description: a primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication); admonish, charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call (take) to record, relieve, rob, solemnly, stand upright, testify, give warning, (bear, call to, give, take to) witness.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2040
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרַס
   Transliteration: hâraç
   Pronunciation: haw-ras'
   Description: a primitive root; to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy; beat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, [idiom] utterly.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7227
   There are 439 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַב
   Transliteration: rab
   Pronunciation: rab
   Description: by contracted from רָבַב; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
   
10. Strong's Number: H5307
    There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָפַל
    Transliteration: nâphal
    Pronunciation: naw-fal'
    Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down.