Exodus 19:20 kjv
And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Exodus 19:20 nkjv
Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Exodus 19:20 niv
The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up
Exodus 19:20 esv
The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Exodus 19:20 nlt
The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.
Exodus 19 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:5, 7 | The LORD came down to see the city and the tower... let us go down. | God's active descent to intervene in human affairs. |
| Exod 3:4 | God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. | God initiates the call of His chosen mediator. |
| Exod 19:11-13 | The third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people. | Foreshadowing of God's descent upon the mountain. |
| Exod 19:21-24 | The LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people... lest they break through unto the LORD. | God's emphasis on holiness and boundaries. |
| Exod 20:18-19 | All the people saw the thunderings... And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us. | The people's fear of direct divine encounter. |
| Exod 24:9-11 | Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders... they saw the God of Israel. | Limited group invited to behold God's presence. |
| Exod 33:11 | The LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. | Unique intimacy of God's communion with Moses. |
| Num 12:6-8 | If there be a prophet among you... with him will I speak mouth to mouth. | God speaks uniquely to Moses, not in riddles. |
| Deut 4:10-12 | Specially the day that thou stoodst before the LORD thy God in Horeb... the LORD spake unto you. | The divine revelation from the mountain. |
| Deut 5:4-5 | The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount... I stood between the LORD and you. | Moses's role as the indispensable mediator. |
| Psa 18:9-10 | He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his his feet. | Poetic imagery of God's majestic descent. |
| Psa 68:7-8 | O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people... the earth shook. | God's powerful leading and presence at Sinai. |
| Isa 64:1 | Oh that thou wouldst rend the heavens, that thou wouldst come down. | A prophetic plea for divine intervention and manifestation. |
| Mic 1:3-4 | For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down. | God's descent often associated with judgment. |
| Mal 3:1 | The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple. | Prophecy of God's eventual coming to His sanctuary. |
| Jn 1:14 | The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory...). | God's ultimate "coming down" in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. |
| Jn 3:13 | No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven. | Jesus Christ is the one truly descended from heaven. |
| Rom 5:19 | As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one. | Illustrates the necessity of a mediator due to human sin. |
| Gal 3:19 | The law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. | Confirms Moses's role as the mediator of the Law. |
| Heb 8:6 | Now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant. | Jesus Christ as the superior mediator. |
| Heb 12:18-24 | Ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched... but ye are come unto mount Sion. | Contrasting Sinai's terror with Zion's grace in Christ. |
| Rev 21:2-3 | I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. | The ultimate coming down of God's dwelling place to earth. |
Exodus 19 verses
Exodus 19 20 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate and direct descent of God, YHWH, upon the summit of Mount Sinai. Subsequently, from that very peak, the LORD called Moses to ascend to Him, signifying a crucial, direct, and intimate encounter between God and His chosen mediator, prior to the revelation of His covenant and law to Israel.
Exodus 19 20 Context
Exodus chapter 19 describes the pivotal arrival of Israel at Mount Sinai, the holy mountain where God promised to meet them (Exod 3:12). Prior to this verse, God has instructed Moses to set strict boundaries around the mountain, warning the people against approaching too closely, lest they be put to death, due to His intense holiness. The entire chapter establishes the solemn, fearful, and awe-inspiring environment for God's forthcoming revelation of the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Covenant. Exodus 19:20 immediately follows a divine command to Moses to descend and further warn the people, indicating God's comprehensive oversight and knowledge of their inclination to trespass, even in the face of imminent divine presence. The act of God descending to the summit and calling Moses alone underscores the necessity of a mediator and highlights God's unapproachable holiness juxtaposed with His purposeful condescension.
Exodus 19 20 Word analysis
- And the LORD (וַיְהוָה - wayhwah): "And" signifies a continuation of the dramatic unfolding events at Sinai. "LORD" represents YHWH (the unpronounceable divine name often rendered Yahweh or Jehovah), the covenant name of God. This emphasizes His personal identity, His commitment to His covenant with Israel, and His absolute sovereignty as the God who reveals Himself.
- came down (וַיֵּרֶד - wayyered): Derived from the Hebrew root yarad (יָרַד), meaning "to descend" or "to go down." This is an anthropomorphic expression, signifying God's tangible, active presence on the earthly plane from His transcendent heavenly abode. It illustrates divine condescension, not a physical limitation, but an intentional manifestation of His presence and power to interact with His creation.
- upon mount Sinai (עַל הַר סִינַי - `al har Sinay): Mount Sinai (also known as Horeb in some passages like Deut 4:10) is the consecrated site chosen by God for the giving of the Law and the establishment of the covenant. "Upon" conveys a direct, all-encompassing divine presence enveloping the mountain, setting it apart as a uniquely sacred space for divine encounter.
- on the top of the mount (אֶל רֹאשׁ הָהָר - `el ro'sh ha-Har): "Top" (ro'sh) signifies the summit or highest point. This specifies the exact location of God's manifestation and Moses's destination. It underlines the heightened sanctity, exclusivity, and profoundness of the encounter, distinguishing this specific point as the most sacred interface between God and man.
- and the LORD (וַיִּקְרָא יְהוָה - wayyiqra YHWH): The re-affirmation of YHWH emphasizes that the same majestic and holy God who descended is now initiating the direct communication with His chosen one.
- called Moses up (וַיִּקְרָא אֶל מֹשֶׁה - wayyiqra `el Mosheh): "Called" (qara' - קָרָא) denotes a divine summons or invitation, exclusively initiated by God. Moses (Mosheh), specifically chosen and set apart, is the recipient of this unique divine call, underscoring his pivotal role as the sole mediator at this stage of the covenant process.
- to the top of the mount (אֶל רֹאשׁ הָהָר - `el ro'sh ha-Har): This reiteration underscores the deliberate precision and absolute exclusivity of Moses's destination. It emphasizes the profound privilege and danger of being called to the precise point of God's most intense manifestation on earth, mediating the awesome reality of God's presence.
Exodus 19 20 Bonus section
The theophanic description of God's "coming down" at Sinai foreshadows the ultimate divine "descent" in the person of Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14), who literally "came down from heaven" (Jn 3:13) to fully reveal God and mediate a new and better covenant (Heb 8:6). While the Sinai revelation was accompanied by thunder, lightning, and terror (Exod 19:16-19), emphasizing God's unapproachable holiness, the New Covenant revelation through Christ provides a way for believers to draw near with confidence (Heb 4:16, 10:19-22). This intense scene at Sinai demonstrates God's infinite condescension towards humanity, yet His persistent demands for holiness. Moses, being called uniquely to the peak, prefigures Christ's singular position as the true Mediator and Advocate, bridging the gap between a Holy God and sinful humanity in a way that Moses's mediation could only anticipate. The boundaries set around Sinai and Moses's repeated warning to the people emphasize God's deep understanding of humanity's sinfulness and tendency to presume upon His holiness, underscoring the necessity for structured divine engagement.
Exodus 19 20 Commentary
Exodus 19:20 is a powerful moment marking the zenith of God's personal intervention at Sinai. The divine descent, described by the verb yarad, "came down," signifies not merely a symbolic presence, but a real and awesome manifestation of God's being upon the physical summit of Mount Sinai. This anthropomorphic language is chosen to convey the undeniable reality and profound impact of God's approach for human understanding. The "top of the mount" is specifically designated as the unparalleled point of encounter, emphasizing the separation of God's holiness from the common ground, and the immense privilege given to Moses. The double mention of "the LORD" (YHWH) asserts His unwavering identity and sovereign initiative. This powerful revelation demonstrates that only through divine invitation, symbolized by "called Moses up," can humanity, even the divinely chosen, approach the infinite holiness of God. The scene encapsulates both God's terrifying majesty (requiring strict boundaries for the people) and His condescending grace (initiating communication through Moses), laying the groundwork for the Law as a covenant between the Holy God and His chosen, yet imperfect, people. This event also highlights God's absolute control over His self-revelation and the vital role of a mediator for humanity to engage with a holy God.