Exodus 19:23

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe said to ADONAI, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, because you ordered us to set limits around the mountain and separate it."

Berean Standard Bible:

But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

American Standard Version:

And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} said^{H559} unto the LORD^{H3068}, The people^{H5971} cannot^{H3201} come up^{H5927} to mount^{H2022} Sinai^{H5514}: for thou chargedst^{H5749} us, saying^{H559}, Set bounds^{H1379} about the mount^{H2022}, and sanctify^{H6942} it.

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Commentary for Exodus 19:23

Exodus 19:23 is a part of the narrative where Moses is receiving the Law from God on Mount Sinai. This verse captures a specific moment in the broader event of the giving of the Ten Commandments. In the verses leading up to Exodus 19:23, God has instructed Moses to set boundaries around the mountain to prevent the people from approaching it prematurely, emphasizing the sanctity of the space where God would reveal Himself.

In this verse, Moses communicates to God the need to respect these boundaries. The historical context is the foundational period of the Israelite nation, recently freed from slavery in Egypt. They are in the wilderness, and God is establishing a covenant with them, which includes a law that will shape their religious and social life.

The themes present in this verse include the holiness of God, the importance of respecting divine instruction, and the necessity of preparing oneself to encounter the sacred. Moses' statement reflects his role as a mediator between God and the people, a theme that recurs throughout the Pentateuch. It also underscores the idea that approaching God requires sanctification and respect for His commands, a concept that is central to the theology of the Old Testament.

In summary, Exodus 19:23 highlights the sanctity of God's presence and the need for appropriate boundaries and preparation when approaching the divine. It reflects the larger narrative of God's covenant with Israel and the establishment of the Mosaic Law, which would become the cornerstone of Israelite religion and identity.

*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: 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.
   
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: 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3201
   There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָכֹל
   Transliteration: yâkôl
   Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
   Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.
   
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: H5514
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סִינַי
   Transliteration: Çîynay
   Pronunciation: see-nah'-ee
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Sinai, mountain of Arabia; Sinai.
   
9. 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.
   
10. 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).
    
11. Strong's Number: H6942
    There are 153 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָדַשׁ
    Transliteration: qâdash
    Pronunciation: kaw-dash'
    Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally); appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), [idiom] wholly.