Exodus 19:13 kjv

There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

Exodus 19:13 nkjv

Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain."

Exodus 19:13 niv

They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain."

Exodus 19:13 esv

No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain."

Exodus 19:13 nlt

No 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. "

Exodus 19 verses

Exodus 19 13 Meaning

Exodus 19:13 delineates the strict boundary conditions set by God for the people of Israel around Mount Sinai, which was sanctified for His presence. It warns that no one, whether human or animal, who trespasses the sacred boundary shall be physically touched by human hands but must be executed from a distance, either by stoning or by shooting with arrows. This absolute prohibition underscores God's holiness and the gravity of His immediate presence. The verse also provides the singular condition under which the people might approach the mountain: upon hearing a prolonged blast from the trumpet (shofar), signaling God's invitation for a structured and mediated encounter.

Exodus 19 13 Context

Exodus chapter 19 describes the Israelites' arrival at Mount Sinai in the third month after their exodus from Egypt. This chapter is pivotal as it sets the stage for God to formally enter into a covenant with His people, delivering the Ten Commandments and the Law. Before giving the Law, God emphasizes His unique holiness and the sacredness of His presence on the mountain. Verses 10-15 detail specific instructions for the people to consecrate themselves, wash their clothes, and set boundaries around the mountain, which no one was to cross. Verse 13 explicitly outlines the dire consequences of violating this boundary, highlighting the unapproachable nature of God's immediate glory and presence without His express invitation. The passage builds an atmosphere of awe and fear, instilling a deep respect for God's transcendence before He reveals His character and Law.

Exodus 19 13 Word analysis

• "No hand" (לא-תיגע בו יד, Lo-tiga bo yad):
  • לא (Lo): Hebrew for "no" or "not," a strong negative emphasizing absolute prohibition.
  • תיגע (Tiga): From the verb `נגע` (naga), meaning "to touch, to strike, to reach." It implies making physical contact.
  • יד (Yad): "Hand." Signifies direct human intervention. The command emphasizes that the sanctity of God's space is such that even the means of enforcing the boundary must avoid direct contamination through touch, underscoring the severe nature of the defilement.
• "shall touch him": Highlights the imperative of separation. Those who transgress the boundary become themselves taboo, needing to be removed without direct contact by others who remain ritually clean.
• "but he shall surely be stoned or shot through" (כי סקול יסקל או ירה יירה, Ki saqol yissaqel o yaro yiyareh):
  • כי (Ki): "But" or "for," introducing the method of execution.
  • סקול יסקל (Saqol yissaqel): Intensive infinitive absolute construction of `סקל` (saqal), meaning "to stone." Emphasizes certainty and severity, "he shall indeed be stoned."
  • ירה יירה (Yaro yiyareh): Intensive infinitive absolute construction of `ירה` (yara), meaning "to shoot" (with arrows). Again, emphasizes certainty, "he shall indeed be shot." These methods are chosen because they enforce judgment from a distance, preventing anyone from making direct contact with the defiled trespasser.
• "whether beast or man" (אם-בהמה אם-איש, Im-behemah im-ish):
  • אם (Im): "If" or "whether." Conveys a universal application without distinction.
  • בהמה (Behemah): "Beast" or "animal."
  • איש (Ish): "Man" or "person."
  • This reinforces the absolute holiness of God, extending to all life. Any unauthorized presence, regardless of intellect or intention, pollutes the sacred space and violates divine order.
• "he shall not live" (לא יחיה, Lo yichyeh): Absolute statement of fatality, underscoring the irreversible consequence of violating divine sanctity.
• "when the trumpet sounds a long blast" (במשך היבל, Be-meshekh ha-yovel):
  • במשך (Be-meshekh): "At the drawing out" or "when prolonged" (from `משך`, mashakh, to draw, prolong, extend). Refers to a sustained, continuous sound.
  • היבל (Ha-yovel): "The ram's horn" or "trumpet," specifically the shofar. This sound serves as God's explicit signal, changing the boundary condition from absolute prohibition to an invitation for mediated approach. It signifies an orderly, divinely ordained shift.
• "they shall come up to the mountain" (המה יעלו בהר, Hemmah ya'alu bahar):
  • המה (Hemmah): "They." Refers to the people of Israel.
  • יעלו (Ya'alu): From `עלה` (alah), "to go up, ascend."
  • בהר (Bahar): "To the mountain" or "on the mountain." Indicates a specific, allowed ascent, demonstrating that God is not forever unapproachable, but requires specific conditions and timing for communion.

• "No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through": This phrase emphasizes an absolute divine prohibition. The requirement for execution from a distance underscores the sacredness of the mountain and God's holiness. It prevents human hands from becoming ritually defiled by touching a desecrator, thus maintaining the purity of the community preparing to meet God.
• "whether beast or man, he shall not live": This demonstrates the universality of God's sovereignty and the stringent demand for holiness within His immediate vicinity. It teaches that the sanctity of God's presence affects all creation and tolerates no defilement or trespass, regardless of sentience or moral capacity. The ultimate penalty signifies the gravity of transgression against divine law.
• "when the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain": This is the crucial turning point, highlighting God's dual nature: absolutely transcendent and fearsome, yet also graciously desirous of relationship. The trumpet's prolonged blast (`yobel`) acts as God's direct, unmistakable signal for regulated access, changing the absolute "do not come near" to "now you may ascend." It reveals that the separation is temporary and purposeful, leading to a divinely orchestrated encounter rather than an arbitrary one.

Exodus 19 13 Bonus section

The "long blast" (yobel) from the trumpet has particular significance. It is not just any sound, but a sustained, signaling blast often associated with liberation and divine presence, even lending its name to the "Jubilee" year of release. This specific sound would later serve as a potent symbol of divine summoning and eschatological events (e.g., in Revelation). The requirement for mediated access, shifting from unapproachable to specifically approachable, serves as a direct polemic against pagan practices where deities could be manipulated or casually approached through human rites. Yahweh dictates the terms of engagement, demonstrating His supreme authority and unique transcendence. This verse highlights the profound difference between a God who demands absolute reverence and one who, out of covenant love, invites communion on His own terms.

Exodus 19 13 Commentary

Exodus 19:13 encapsulates a fundamental tension in God's relationship with humanity: His inherent holiness demands absolute separation and purity, yet His desire for relationship leads to His ultimate provision for regulated access. The initial decree of "no hand shall touch" and execution from a distance (stoning/shooting) instilled profound awe and fear of God's immediate, consuming presence, teaching Israel the gravity of approaching a holy God. This was crucial for a people accustomed to the arbitrary deities of Egypt. The warning applies universally ("whether beast or man") to emphasize that God's holiness transcends human categories, making all life accountable to His sacred boundaries.

However, the verse concludes with an astonishing condition: "when the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up." This shofar blast signifies a divinely initiated shift, an invitation for a controlled approach. It reveals that the strict separation was not eternal alienation but a temporary pedagogical tool to prepare the people for proper covenant relationship. This moment sets a precedent for how Israel would subsequently engage with God: always on His terms, in His timing, and through His appointed mediators and signals. It foreshadows the sacrificial system and eventually, the New Covenant where direct access is granted through the "long blast" of Christ's perfect sacrifice, allowing believers to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb 10:22), fulfilling the yearning for full communion implied in this early promise of access.