Exodus 24:10

KJV

And they saw the God of Israel: and [there was] under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in [his] clearness.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they saw {H7200} the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}: and there was under his feet {H7272} as it were a paved {H3840} work {H4639} of a sapphire stone {H5601}, and as it were the body {H6106} of heaven {H8064} in his clearness {H2892}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and they saw the God of Isra'el. Under his feet was something like a sapphire stone pavement as clear as the sky itself.

Berean Standard Bible

and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

American Standard Version

and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the very heaven for clearness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 24:10 records a singular and awe-inspiring moment in Israel's history where Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders were granted a privileged, veiled vision of the God of Israel on Mount Sinai. This profound theophany, occurring immediately after the ratification of the Mosaic Covenant, revealed a glimpse of God's transcendent holiness and majestic glory, described in terms of a brilliant sapphire pavement beneath His feet, like the pure essence of the heavens themselves. This encounter served to confirm the divine authority of the covenant and the leaders, deeply imprinting the reality of God's presence upon those who witnessed it.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This extraordinary vision unfolds immediately following the solemn covenant ceremony at Mount Sinai. In [Exodus 24:3-8](/exodus/24-3-8 "Exodus 24:3-8 - The Covenant Ceremony"), Moses had meticulously recounted all the Lord's words and laws to the people, who, with unified voice, pledged their obedience. This was sealed with a blood covenant, symbolizing the solemnity and life-and-death stakes of their commitment to Yahweh. Following this ratification, [Exodus 24:9](/exodus/24-9 "Exodus 24:9 - The Ascent of the Leaders") details the ascent of Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel up the mountain. This select group, representing the spiritual and civil leadership of the nation, was invited into a closer, more intimate encounter with God, solidifying their authority and the divine origin of the covenant in the eyes of the people. The vision in verse 10 is thus the divine seal and confirmation of the covenant just established, a demonstration of God's tangible presence to His chosen representatives.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai marked the foundational moment of Israel's identity as God's chosen nation, distinct from all other peoples. In the ancient Near East, deities were often associated with specific places or natural phenomena, and divine encounters (theophanies) were typically mediated through idols, dreams, or omens. However, the encounter described in [Exodus 24:10](/exodus/24-10 "Exodus 24:10 - The Vision of God") is unique in its directness, albeit veiled, and its emphasis on a holy, transcendent God who reveals Himself not through a physical form, but through the overwhelming manifestation of His glory. This privileged vision of "the God of Israel" to the nation's leaders underscored Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty and His personal, covenantal relationship with Israel, setting them apart from surrounding polytheistic cultures. It established a precedent for divine revelation that would shape Israel's understanding of God for generations.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in the book of Exodus and beyond. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Revelation and Presence**, as God chooses to manifest Himself to His covenant people, albeit in a veiled manner, underscoring His desire for relationship. The description of His glorious "paved work of a sapphire stone" emphasizes God's **Transcendent Holiness and Majesty**, a theme that permeates the entire Sinai narrative, from the burning bush in [Exodus 3](/exodus/3 "Exodus 3 - The Burning Bush") to the detailed instructions for the tabernacle in [Exodus 25-31](/exodus/25-31 "Exodus 25-31 - Instructions for the Tabernacle"). Furthermore, the vision serves as a **Confirmation of Covenant and Authority**, solidifying the divine origin of the Mosaic Law and affirming the leadership of Moses and the elders. It reinforces the unique **Covenantal Relationship** between Yahweh and Israel, a relationship founded on His initiative and their pledged obedience, as seen earlier in [Exodus 19:5-6](/exodus/19-5-6 "Exodus 19:5-6 - A Treasured Possession").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** From `H430`, this term, while a plural form, is used here with singular meaning ("the God of Israel") to refer specifically to Yahweh, the supreme, covenant-making God who delivered Israel from Egypt. The leaders "saw" Him, indicating a direct, visual perception of His presence and glory, though not necessarily His full essence, which is explicitly stated in [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God's Face") as unseeable by mortals. This highlights God's unique identity as the sovereign deity of Israel.
* **Sapphire (Hebrew, _çappîyr'_):** From `H5601`, this precious gem, known for its deep blue color and brilliance, is consistently associated with divine glory and heavenly majesty in biblical literature, as seen in [Ezekiel 1:26](/ezekiel/1-26 "Ezekiel 1:26 - The Likeness of a Throne of Sapphire"). Its description as a "paved work" suggests a solid, brilliant, and perhaps translucent foundation or platform. The imagery evokes immense value, purity, and a celestial quality, emphasizing the unblemished and glorious nature of God's presence and the divine realm.
* **Clearness (Hebrew, _ṭôhar'_):** From `H2892`, this word signifies brightness, purity, or translucence. When applied to "the body of heaven in his clearness," it conveys an image of the heavens in their most pristine, unclouded, and brilliant state. It speaks to the absolute purity and unapproachable light of God's being, an ethereal quality that transcends earthly understanding and physical form, emphasizing His absolute holiness and lack of blemish.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they saw the God of Israel":** This phrase indicates a direct, visual encounter granted to the select group of leaders (Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders). It was not a full, unmediated vision of God's essence, but a profound manifestation of His presence and glory, a theophany designed to confirm His reality and authority to His covenant representatives and to underscore the solemnity of the covenant.
* **"and [there was] under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone":** This describes the foundation or platform upon which God's presence was manifested. The "sapphire stone" signifies immense beauty, preciousness, and a celestial, heavenly quality. The "paved work" suggests a solid, perhaps translucent, and brilliantly shining surface, emphasizing the purity and glory of God's dwelling place. The crucial phrase "as it were" (Hebrew, _k'ma'aseh_) indicates a simile, acknowledging the limitations of human language to fully describe the divine and the veiled nature of the vision.
* **"and as it were the body of heaven in [his] clearness":** This further elaborates on the appearance of God's immediate surroundings, comparing it to the very essence or substance of the heavens in their most pure, clear, and brilliant state. This imagery conveys boundless splendor, clarity, and an almost translucent quality, highlighting God's unapproachable light, holiness, and transcendent purity. It suggests a divine realm that is utterly untainted and infinitely glorious, beyond human comprehension.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 24:10 is rich with **Symbolism** and **Simile**, conveying the ineffable nature of God's presence. The "sapphire stone" symbolizes divine majesty, purity, and the preciousness of God's being, often associated with heavenly thrones and the divine realm. The description of "a paved work" suggests a solid, unshakeable foundation, reinforcing God's eternal stability and the firm ground of His covenant. The repeated phrase "as it were" functions as a **Simile**, acknowledging the inadequacy of human language to fully capture the divine reality. It allows the human mind to grasp a glimpse of the ungraspable by comparing it to familiar, yet supremely beautiful and vast, earthly phenomena like a precious gem and the clear sky. This use of **Theophany** (a visible manifestation of God) through veiled imagery protects the human observers while still profoundly revealing God's glory and confirming His covenant. The passage also employs **Imagery** to create a vivid mental picture of divine splendor.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 24:10 profoundly underscores the themes of divine revelation, God's transcendent holiness, and the sacredness of the covenant relationship. This unique, veiled vision reveals a God who is both utterly distinct from His creation (transcendent) and yet willing to draw near to His chosen people (immanent). The imagery of sapphire and the "clearness" of heaven emphasizes God's unblemished purity and glorious majesty, inspiring awe and reverence. This encounter served as a powerful divine affirmation of the Mosaic Covenant, sealing it with a visible manifestation of God's presence to the nation's leaders, thereby establishing their authority and the divine origin of the Law. It foreshadows the ultimate hope of seeing God, a promise that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the new creation.

* [Ezekiel 1:26](/ezekiel/1-26 "Ezekiel 1:26 - The Likeness of a Throne of Sapphire")
* [Revelation 4:3](/revelation/4-3 "Revelation 4:3 - A Rainbow Like an Emerald")
* [Revelation 21:19](/revelation/21-19 "Revelation 21:19 - Foundations of the New Jerusalem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The vision in Exodus 24:10 offers us a profound glimpse into the majesty and holiness of God, reminding us of the immense privilege it is to stand in His presence. While we do not experience such physical manifestations today, the spiritual reality of drawing near to God remains. The awe and reverence felt by the Israelite leaders should inspire us to approach God with similar respect, wonder, and humility. This verse also speaks to the profound truth that God desires to reveal Himself to His people, not to overwhelm us, but to draw us into deeper relationship and confirm His covenant promises. It calls us to consider the purity and glory of the One we worship, prompting us to live lives that reflect His holiness and honor His name. This vision, though ancient, points forward to the ultimate hope of seeing God in His unveiled glory, a promise that fuels our faith and shapes our eternal perspective, encouraging us to pursue purity of heart that we might truly "see God" (Matthew 5:8).

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the description of God's presence in Exodus 24:10 deepen your understanding of His holiness and transcendence?**
* **What does this unique, veiled vision teach us about the nature of divine revelation and God's willingness to draw near to humanity?**
* **How should the awe and reverence of the Israelite leaders inspire our own approach to God in worship and daily life?**

### FAQ
**Did the leaders literally see God's physical form in Exodus 24:10?**

Answer: No, the text does not suggest they saw God's physical form in the way one human sees another. The phrase "they saw the God of Israel" indicates a direct, visual encounter with a manifestation of His presence and glory, known as a theophany. However, the description immediately shifts to what was "under his feet"—a "paved work of a sapphire stone" and "the body of heaven in his clearness." The use of "as it were" (Hebrew, _k'ma'aseh_) twice in the verse is crucial; it signifies a simile, indicating that human language and perception are inadequate to fully describe the divine reality. This vision was a veiled, mediated revelation of God's majesty, consistent with other biblical passages like [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God's Face"), where God tells Moses, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." It was a perception of His glorious presence, not a direct gaze upon His unapproachable essence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The veiled vision of God's glory in [Exodus 24:10](/exodus/24-10 "Exodus 24:10 - The Vision of God") finds its ultimate and unveiled fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While the Israelite leaders saw only a mediated manifestation of God's presence, a "paved work of a sapphire stone" that hinted at divine glory, the New Testament declares that Jesus is the perfect and complete revelation of God. As [John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God") states, "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." Jesus, being the "radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")), is the very "image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - The Image of the Invisible God")). The sapphire-like clearness of heaven under God's feet in Exodus foreshadows the divine purity and glory embodied in Christ. Through Him, we are granted access to God's presence that far surpasses the Old Testament experience, for He is the new and living way to the Father ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19-20 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Confidence to Enter the Holy Places")). The awe-inspiring, yet distant, vision on Sinai gives way to an intimate relationship with God through Jesus, who promises that those who are pure in heart "shall see God" ([Matthew 5:8](/matthew/5-8 "Matthew 5:8 - Blessed Are the Pure in Heart")), a promise that finds its ultimate consummation when we see Him "face to face" ([1 Corinthians 13:12](/1_corinthians/13-12 "1 Corinthians 13:12 - Seeing Face to Face")) and become like Him ([1 John 3:2](/1_john/3-2 "1 John 3:2 - We Shall Be Like Him")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 1:18

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

Ezekiel 10:1

¶ Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

Genesis 32:30

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Ezekiel 1:26

¶ And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

Ezekiel 1:28

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Exodus 33:20

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Exodus 33:23

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.