Exodus 19 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

The LORD Reveals Himself at Sinai

Exo 19:1Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt,[fn] they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai.

Exo 19:2After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.

Exo 19:3

Exo 19:3Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel:

Exo 19:4

Exo 19:4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Exo 19:5

Exo 19:5Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.

Exo 19:6

Exo 19:6And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

Exo 19:7

Exo 19:7So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the LORD had commanded him.

Exo 19:8

Exo 19:8And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the LORD.

Exo 19:9

Exo 19:9Then 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.

Exo 19:10

Exo 19:10Then the LORD told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing.

Exo 19:11

Exo 19:11Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.

Exo 19:12

Exo 19:12Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death.

Exo 19:13

Exo 19:13No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.[fn]”

Exo 19:14

Exo 19:14So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes.

Exo 19:15

Exo 19:15He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.”

Exo 19:16

Exo 19:16On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.

Exo 19:17

Exo 19:17Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Exo 19:18

Exo 19:18All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.

Exo 19:19

Exo 19:19As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply.

Exo 19:20

Exo 19:20The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.

Exo 19:21

Exo 19:21Then the LORD told Moses, “Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the LORD, or they will die.

Exo 19:22

Exo 19:22Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves so that the LORD does not break out and destroy them.”

Exo 19:23

Exo 19:23“But LORD,” Moses protested, “the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’”

Exo 19:24

Exo 19:24But the LORD said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people break through to approach the LORD, or he will break out and destroy them.”

Exo 19:25

Exo 19:25So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said.

See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NLT Footnotes

(19:1)

Hebrew In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on the very day, i.e., two lunar months to the day after leaving Egypt. Compare Num 33:3.

(19:13)

Or up to the mountain.

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Exodus Chapter 19 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

Exodus 19 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

NLT Footnotes

Exodus Chapter 19 — Additional Translations:

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