Exodus 19:23 - Moses said to Yahweh, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
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What does "Exodus 19:23" mean?
This verse, Exodus 19:23, is part of the narrative where God is preparing to reveal himself to the Israelites at Mount Sinai and give them the Ten Commandments. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Moses said to Yahweh...": This establishes that Moses is acting as an intermediary, communicating with God (Yahweh is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible).
"...“The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai...": Moses expresses concern or reminds God that the Israelites are prohibited from ascending the mountain.
"...for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”: Moses recounts a previous divine instruction. God had commanded that physical boundaries (bounds) be established around the base of Mount Sinai to prevent the people from getting too close. The act of "sanctifying" the mountain meant to set it apart as holy, dedicating it for God's exclusive use and warning people to treat it with reverence and not to defile it by trespassing.
In essence, the verse means:
Moses is reminding God that there's already a clear prohibition in place regarding the Israelites' access to Mount Sinai. He's reinforcing the idea that the mountain is sacred and that the people are not permitted to approach it without risking consequences. This helps to emphasize the awe and reverence surrounding God's presence and the importance of obeying his commands.
Contextual significance:
This verse highlights the following important points:
God's Holiness: The setting boundaries and sanctifying the mountain emphasized God's holiness and transcendence. He is not casually accessible.
Obedience: The people were expected to obey God's commands, even if they didn't fully understand them. Staying within the prescribed boundaries was a test of their obedience.
Preparation: This restriction was part of a larger preparation process to ready the Israelites for receiving God's law. They needed to understand the seriousness of the covenant they were about to enter.
Mediator: Moses is portrayed as the mediator between God and the people. He communicates God's instructions and also voices the people's concerns.
The verse serves to create a sense of anticipation and seriousness as the narrative builds towards the revelation of the Ten Commandments. It emphasizes the gap between the divine and the human and the need for respect and obedience when approaching the sacred.
Exodus 19:23 - Moses said to Yahweh, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
What does "Exodus 19:23" mean?
This verse, Exodus 19:23, is part of the narrative where God is preparing to reveal himself to the Israelites at Mount Sinai and give them the Ten Commandments. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Moses said to Yahweh...": This establishes that Moses is acting as an intermediary, communicating with God (Yahweh is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible).
"...“The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai...": Moses expresses concern or reminds God that the Israelites are prohibited from ascending the mountain.
"...for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”: Moses recounts a previous divine instruction. God had commanded that physical boundaries (bounds) be established around the base of Mount Sinai to prevent the people from getting too close. The act of "sanctifying" the mountain meant to set it apart as holy, dedicating it for God's exclusive use and warning people to treat it with reverence and not to defile it by trespassing.
In essence, the verse means:
Moses is reminding God that there's already a clear prohibition in place regarding the Israelites' access to Mount Sinai. He's reinforcing the idea that the mountain is sacred and that the people are not permitted to approach it without risking consequences. This helps to emphasize the awe and reverence surrounding God's presence and the importance of obeying his commands.
Contextual significance:
This verse highlights the following important points:
God's Holiness: The setting boundaries and sanctifying the mountain emphasized God's holiness and transcendence. He is not casually accessible.
Obedience: The people were expected to obey God's commands, even if they didn't fully understand them. Staying within the prescribed boundaries was a test of their obedience.
Preparation: This restriction was part of a larger preparation process to ready the Israelites for receiving God's law. They needed to understand the seriousness of the covenant they were about to enter.
Mediator: Moses is portrayed as the mediator between God and the people. He communicates God's instructions and also voices the people's concerns.
The verse serves to create a sense of anticipation and seriousness as the narrative builds towards the revelation of the Ten Commandments. It emphasizes the gap between the divine and the human and the need for respect and obedience when approaching the sacred.