Exodus 19:10 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

Exodus 19:10 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.

Exodus 19:10 niv

And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes

Exodus 19:10 esv

the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments

Exodus 19:10 nlt

Then the LORD told Moses, "Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing.

Exodus 19 verses

Exodus 19 10 Meaning

Exodus 19:10 conveys the Lord's directive to Moses, commanding him to instruct the Israelite people to purify themselves physically and ritually over a two-day period. This purification includes washing their garments. This preparatory step is essential for their spiritual readiness before the anticipated theophany and establishment of the covenant with God on Mount Sinai, emphasizing the divine holiness that requires reverence and ceremonial purity from those who approach Him.

Exodus 19 10 Context

The immediate context of Exodus 19 finds the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai, a pivotal moment in their journey from slavery in Egypt to becoming God's covenant people. Chapters 1-18 recount their deliverance and initial wilderness travels. Upon reaching Sinai, God, through Moses, reiterates His saving acts and proposes a covenant, offering to make Israel a "treasured possession," a "kingdom of priests," and a "holy nation" if they obey Him (Exod 19:4-6). The people affirm their willingness to do "all that the Lord has spoken" (Exod 19:8). Exodus 19:10 initiates the practical, ritualistic preparations commanded by God for this unique encounter, setting the stage for the dramatic descent of the Lord upon the mountain and the subsequent giving of the Ten Commandments and the Law. This event contrasts sharply with the practices of pagan nations, where human beings often sought to manipulate or coerce their deities. Here, the sovereign God defines the terms of interaction, demanding a prior state of purity and reverence from His chosen people.

Exodus 19 10 Word analysis

• "And the LORD said": (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, vayyomer YHWH) – This phrase signifies divine initiative and ultimate authority. YHWH, the covenantal name of God, highlights His personal, relational commitment to His people, even as He exercises His sovereign will.
• "to Moses": Moses acts as the divinely appointed mediator and messenger. God speaks directly to Moses, who then communicates these sacred instructions to the entire Israelite community. This underscores his unique role in the theophany.
• "Go to the people": (אֶל־הָעָם, ʾel-hāʿām) – This implies Moses' immediate pastoral responsibility to engage directly with the entire congregation. The command applies universally to all Israelites, signifying that approaching God is a communal, not just an individual, responsibility.
• "and consecrate them": (וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם, wəqiddashtam) – Derived from the Hebrew root qadash (קדשׁ), meaning to set apart, make holy, sanctify, or dedicate for a sacred purpose. In this context, it signifies a ceremonial purification and preparation, changing the people's status from common to holy in anticipation of divine proximity. It implies a separation from mundane life and defilement, acknowledging the incomparable holiness of God which requires a corresponding purity from those who would stand in His presence. It points to a profound shift in their readiness for encountering the divine.
• "today and tomorrow": (הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר, hayyom u-mahar) – This specifies a two-day period of intentional preparation. This timeframe emphasizes the seriousness and deliberateness required for approaching God, highlighting that it is not a casual or hasty endeavor. It establishes a waiting period, building anticipation and spiritual readiness. The culmination is on the third day (Exod 19:11).
• "and let them wash their garments": (וְכִבְּסוּ שִׂמְלֹתָם, wəkhibsū simlətām) – This literally means "and they shall wash their clothes." This is a physical, external ritual act that symbolized an inner spiritual cleansing and purification from defilement. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such acts often signified ritual readiness and purity for sacred events. It outwardly demonstrates a recognition of the need for cleanliness when encountering a perfectly holy God. This external act was meant to accompany and symbolize the internal attitude of reverence and readiness for holiness.
• Words-group analysis: "consecrate them... and let them wash their garments": These two commands are intrinsically linked. Consecration (qadash) is the state of being set apart and made holy for divine interaction, while the washing of garments (kavas) is a tangible, practical, and symbolic step required to achieve that state of purity. Together, they constitute a prescribed ritual of preparation, signifying that both external action and internal disposition are necessary to properly approach God's awesome presence. The visible purification symbolizes the required inward transformation.

Exodus 19 10 Bonus section

The command for purification in Exodus 19:10 lays theological groundwork for several key themes:

• Divine Initiative and Human Responsibility: God initiates the encounter, but humanity is given specific actions they must take to prepare for it. This reciprocity is fundamental to the covenant relationship.
• The Holiness of God: The entire preparation underscores the radical purity and absolute otherness of Yahweh, which necessitates specific and intense preparation. This contrasts sharply with pagan views where deities might be accessed through manipulative magic or revelry.
• Foreshadowing Christ: The sequence of preparation leading to God's presence on the "third day" (Exod 19:11) can be seen as a subtle foreshadowing of ultimate spiritual purification and renewed access to God through the work of Jesus Christ, particularly His resurrection on the third day, which ushered in a new covenant of grace and a new way of approach to God (Heb 10:19-22).
• Laying Foundation for Mosaic Law: This initial call to consecration precedes the giving of the entire Law at Sinai. It establishes purity and separation as foundational themes for the Mosaic covenant, shaping laws regarding clean and unclean, dietary restrictions, and cultic practices that permeate the Pentateuch.

Exodus 19 10 Commentary

Exodus 19:10 establishes a foundational principle for humanity's interaction with the divine: the holy God demands a corresponding holiness or purity from those who would draw near to Him. As the Israelites were poised to receive the Law directly from the Lord's presence, they were first required to undergo a period of ritual consecration. This command, delivered through Moses, emphasizes that encountering God is not a casual event but one that requires deliberate preparation and reverence. The "washing of garments" was a visible, communal act of purification, signifying a putting away of worldly defilement and a readiness to enter into the divine sphere.

This act of purification served as both a practical instruction for hygiene in a large camp and, more importantly, a powerful spiritual metaphor. It taught Israel that outward cleanliness must reflect an inward attitude of readiness and separation from commonness to sacredness. The two-day timeframe underscored the solemnity and anticipation, preparing them for the dramatic manifestation of God's glory on the "third day." This preparation was not a means to earn God's presence, which was given by grace, but a necessary human response to His majestic holiness, ensuring they would approach Him with appropriate reverence and awe. The instruction served to instill a profound awareness of the sacredness of the impending covenant, differentiating the holy God of Israel from the less demanding deities of the surrounding nations. It also lays the groundwork for later Old Testament purity laws and sacrifices, all designed to enable a sinful people to live in the presence of a holy God.