Exodus 19 18

Exodus 19:18 kjv

And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Exodus 19:18 nkjv

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

Exodus 19:18 niv

Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

Exodus 19:18 esv

Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

Exodus 19:18 nlt

All 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.

Exodus 19 verses

Exodus 19 18 Meaning

Exodus 19:18 describes the overwhelming and terrifying manifestation of God's presence on Mount Sinai. The entire mountain was enveloped in dense smoke because the Lord, YHWH, had descended upon it in fire. This smoke was as intense and voluminous as that from a furnace or kiln, and the seismic impact of God's descent caused the whole mountain to tremble violently. It underscores the majestic holiness, immense power, and unapproachable nature of God as He prepared to give His covenant Law to Israel.

Exodus 19 18 Context

Exodus chapter 19 describes the arrival of the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai in the third month after leaving Egypt, having just been miraculously delivered and sustained by God. This chapter serves as a pivotal transition, setting the stage for the formal covenant relationship between YHWH and Israel. The preceding verses detail the Lord's invitation for Israel to be His "treasured possession," a "kingdom of priests," and a "holy nation" (Ex 19:5-6), provided they obey His voice and keep His covenant. Before the Ten Commandments are delivered, God emphasizes the need for sanctification and strict boundaries around the mountain to impress upon the people the absolute holiness and majesty of His presence. Exodus 19:18 specifically portrays the terrifying and awe-inspiring manifestation of God's descent on Sinai, creating an atmosphere of profound reverence, fear, and preparation for His revelation of the Law. It underscores the transcendent nature of the God who is about to speak to His people.

Exodus 19 18 Word analysis

• Now Mount Sinai (וְהַר סִינַי, wəhar Sînaḡ)

  • Significance: Identifies the precise location of the covenant delivery, a central place in Israel's history and theology. It became synonymous with the giving of the Law.
  • "Har": Hebrew for "mountain" or "mount."

• was wrapped in smoke (עָשַׁן כֻּלּוֹ, ‘āšan kullô)

  • ‘āšan: "To smoke," "to fume." This word choice indicates not just smoke but a continuous, dense, pervasive cloud, implying the intensity of the divine presence.
  • Significance: Smoke often symbolizes God's presence (pillar of cloud) and serves to veil His overwhelming glory from human eyes, ensuring their survival. It also implies burning and heat.

• because the LORD (כִּי יְהוָה, kî YHWH)

  • kî: "Because," "for," "that." Indicates a direct causal link.
  • YHWH: The personal, covenant name of God (often transliterated as "Yahweh"). This emphasizes that the display is not a natural phenomenon but a deliberate action by the covenant-keeping God of Israel. His direct agency is highlighted.

• had descended (יָרַד עָלָיו, yārad ‘ālāw)

  • yārad: "To descend," "to come down." An anthropomorphic action portraying God's immanence, His active engagement in the world.
  • Significance: God chose to come down to His people, bridging the gap between the divine and human realms, yet maintaining His awesome distance.

• on it in fire (בָּאֵשׁ, bā’ēš)

  • bā’ēš: "In fire."
  • ’ēš: "Fire." Fire is a recurring symbol of God's holiness, purifying presence, judgment, and consuming power. It represents His intense, radiant glory that human beings cannot directly approach without being consumed. It connects to the burning bush (Ex 3) and later visions of divine glory (Ezek 1, Rev 1).

• The smoke went up (וַיַּעַל עֲשָׁנוֹ, wayya‘al ‘ăšānô)

  • wayya‘al: "And it went up."

• like the smoke of a kiln (כְּעָשָׁן הַכִּבְשָׁן, kə‘āšan hakkibhšān)

  • kibhšān: "Furnace," "kiln," "smelter."
  • Significance: This vivid simile portrays the sheer volume, density, and industrial-scale intensity of the smoke, emphasizing that it was no mere bonfire, but a colossal manifestation. A kiln is a place of immense heat, often used for purification (refining metals) or for intense, sustained burning (baking bricks). It suggests a consuming fire and heat that affects its surroundings.

• and the whole mountain (וַיֶּחֱרַד כָּל־הָהָר, wayyeḥerad kol-hāhār)

  • kol-hāhār: "All the mountain," "the entire mountain." Emphasizes the universal effect across the entire landform.

• trembled greatly (מְאֹד, mə’ōd)

  • wayyeḥerad: "And it trembled," "it quaked," "it shook violently." The verb conveys fear, trembling, or alarm.
  • mə’ōd: "Greatly," "very much," "exceedingly." Intensifies the action, describing a profound and extensive physical reaction, akin to a massive earthquake, due to the divine presence. This highlights God's dominion over creation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "wrapped in smoke...in fire": This pairing illustrates the dual nature of God's manifestation – fiery presence concealed by dense smoke. The fire denotes God's glory and holiness; the smoke ensures distance and preservation for the people. It demonstrates God's awe-inspiring presence simultaneously drawing near yet remaining unapproachable in His raw glory.
  • "because the LORD had descended...trembled greatly": This directly links the physical, terrifying phenomena on the mountain to the active presence of YHWH. It is a direct effect of His coming down, demonstrating His overwhelming power that impacts even the earth itself. It serves to instil reverence and fear of the Lord as a response to His holy power.

Exodus 19 18 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: This awe-inspiring display would have stood in stark contrast to the pagan deities of the ancient Near East, such as Baal, who were often associated with storm phenomena, thunder, and rain. While Baal was thought to bring storms, Yahweh is depicted as the master of the cosmic elements, causing the entire earth to shake and controlling fire and smoke, not merely being identified with them. This demonstrated YHWH's absolute sovereignty and uniqueness as the one true God, not limited to or merely part of creation, but its Creator and Controller.
• Volcanic imagery: Some scholars have explored the possibility that the description of fire, smoke, and trembling could allude to volcanic activity, as Sinai might have been a volcanic region. Regardless of the geological reality, the biblical narrative attributes these phenomena directly to God's supernatural descent and not to natural processes, emphasizing divine causation and purposeful action.
• Establishment of a sacred space: The events on Sinai sanctified the mountain, setting it apart as holy ground due to God's dwelling there. This prefigured the Tabernacle, which would become a portable Sinai, the designated space for God's holy presence to dwell among His people.
• Fear and worship: The terrifying display on Sinai evokes a "fear of the Lord" which in biblical thought is not a cowering dread, but a profound awe, reverence, and respect that leads to worship and obedience.

Exodus 19 18 Commentary

Exodus 19:18 captures the most dramatic moment in biblical history—the initial revelation of God at Mount Sinai to His chosen people. The sensory overload described—dense smoke, consuming fire, and a quaking mountain—was intentional. This unparalleled display was not merely for show, but to imprint upon the nascent nation of Israel the absolute majesty, power, and holiness of the God who was condescending to make a covenant with them. The fire speaks of God's pure, unapproachable essence, both light and destructive, a "consuming fire" as later described in Deuteronomy and Hebrews. The smoke veiled His full glory, allowing humanity to witness His presence without being obliterated. The trembling of the mountain served as a palpable, seismic witness to God's dominion over all creation, reinforcing His transcendence.

This passage set the stage for the Law's reception, showing that the commandments came from an infinitely holy and powerful God, demanding ultimate reverence and obedience. The vivid description serves as a warning against casual approach to the divine and underlines the strict boundaries God set around the mountain (Ex 19:12-13). It highlights the fearful glory of the Old Covenant, contrasting sharply with the New Covenant's gracious accessibility through Christ, as explained in Hebrews 12:18-24, where believers approach Mount Zion, a place of grace, not a trembling mountain ablaze with fire. This event establishes Sinai as a benchmark for divine encounters, shaping the people's understanding of God's nature and the seriousness of His covenant.