Exodus 19:7 kjv
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Exodus 19:7 nkjv
So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Exodus 19:7 niv
So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak.
Exodus 19:7 esv
So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.
Exodus 19:7 nlt
So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the LORD had commanded him.
Exodus 19 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Moses as Mediator & Messenger | ||
| Deut 5:5 | "I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD..." | Moses' mediatorial role in revealing God's word. |
| Gal 3:19 | "...it was added because of transgressions, having been arranged through angels by the hand of a mediator." | New Testament perspective on the law given through a mediator (Moses). |
| Num 12:7-8 | "Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. With him I speak mouth to mouth..." | God's unique and direct communication with Moses, highlighting his trustworthiness. |
| Heb 3:5 | "Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later," | Moses' faithfulness as a servant in delivering God's message. |
| Exo 24:3-8 | Moses then presented all the LORD’s words to the people for their assent. | Moses recounts God's words to the people before the covenant ceremony. |
| Jer 1:7 | "But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak." | Prophets sent by God to relay His commands. |
| Role of Elders | ||
| Exo 3:16 | "Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers...'" | Elders as initial representatives contacted by God through Moses. |
| Num 11:16 | "Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel...that they may bear the burden of the people with you..." | Elders' ongoing role in leadership and sharing burdens. |
| Deut 31:28 | "Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing..." | Elders gathered for receiving final instructions from Moses. |
| Ezra 10:14 | "Let our leaders, all the assembly, take action in this matter. Also, let all those in our cities who have married foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges..." | Elders as community leaders in judicial matters. |
| Delivering "All These Words" | ||
| Exo 19:3-6 | (Previous verses where God speaks "all these words" to Moses). | The immediate context: God's message delivered to Moses. |
| Deut 1:6 | "The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain." | God's word spoken to Israel, recalled as instruction. |
| Deut 4:1-2 | "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them...You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it..." | Emphasizes the importance of obeying all God's words without alteration. |
| Deut 26:17-18 | "You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes and His commandments and His rules..." | The mutual declaration of the covenant relationship. |
| Josh 24:15-24 | Joshua relays God's word and the people covenant to serve the LORD. | A later instance of covenant renewal where the leader relays God's terms. |
| Jer 11:6-8 | "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: 'Hear the words of this covenant and do them...'" | God commands Jeremiah to proclaim "all these words" of the broken covenant. |
| Covenant Formation | ||
| Exo 20:1-17 | The Ten Commandments – the core of the covenant given directly. | The immediate outcome of this initial agreement – the detailed law. |
| Deut 5:27 | "Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say, and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you; and we will hear and do it." | People's request for Moses to mediate further revelation. |
| Heb 12:18-24 | Contrasts the terror of Sinai's revelation with the grace of the New Covenant in Christ. | New Testament reflection on the covenant given at Sinai through mediation. |
| Response to God's Word | ||
| Exo 19:8 | "And all the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.”" | The immediate corporate response to Moses' communication. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Principle of obedience to God's word (New Testament application). |
| Matt 7:24-27 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man..." | Jesus emphasizes the importance of hearing and doing His words. |
Exodus 19 verses
Exodus 19 7 Meaning
Exodus 19:7 details Moses' immediate and faithful response to the divine mandate given on Mount Sinai. After receiving God's conditional covenant proposal for Israel (Exo 19:5-6), Moses descends and meticulously convenes the representative elders of the people. His purpose is to formally and transparently present to them "all these words" – the exact message the LORD had communicated – establishing the crucial step in the covenant ratification process where God's terms are laid before the nation for their conscious assent.
Exodus 19 7 Context
Exodus 19:7 is a pivotal verse, situated at the dramatic foot of Mount Sinai, a significant turning point in Israel's history. Chapters 1-18 recount the liberation from Egypt, the miraculous Red Sea crossing, and the wilderness journey, culminating in their arrival at the desert of Sinai (Exo 19:1-2). Just prior to this verse, God calls Moses to the mountain and delivers a profound covenant proposal to Him (Exo 19:3-6). This proposal invites Israel to become His "treasured possession," a "kingdom of priests," and a "holy nation," conditioned upon their obedience to His voice and covenant. Exodus 19:7 describes Moses’ faithful act of conveying this divine message, verbatim, to the representative elders of the nation. It sets the stage for the people's collective response (Exo 19:8) and the subsequent formal covenant ceremony and giving of the Law, establishing the theological foundation for Israel's unique relationship with the LORD. The context emphasizes the direct, mediated communication from God to His people, establishing His sovereignty and their obligation.
Exodus 19 7 Word analysis
So Moses came (וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה, vayyavo Mosheh):
- Moses: The divinely appointed mediator, prophet, and leader of Israel. His action signifies his crucial role in connecting God's revelation to the people. His presence among them signals the beginning of the formal presentation.
- Came: Denotes a descent from the mountain where he had spoken with God, back to the level of the people, signifying his act of bringing God's word to them. This physical movement emphasizes the delivery of the divine message from source to recipient.
and called (וַיִּקְרָא, vayyiqra):
- Called: Implies a formal summoning or gathering. This was not a casual announcement but a deliberate assembly for a matter of utmost importance, reflecting the gravity of the message God intended to convey. It indicates an official convening process.
the elders (זְקֵנִים, zeqenim):
- Elders: The recognized leaders and representatives of the Israelite tribes and families. They served as authoritative figures responsible for the community. Moses addressed them first, acknowledging their role in conveying the message to the wider populace and collectively deciding on behalf of the nation. This structured approach highlights God's orderly communication through established leadership.
of the people (הָעָם, ha'am):
- People: Refers to the entire nation of Israel, representing the whole community, not just a select few. The elders represent this broader community. The message was ultimately for all of them.
and set before them (וַיָּשֶׂם לִפְנֵיהֶם, vayyasem lifnehem):
- Set before them: This Hebrew phrase denotes a formal and public presentation, literally "placed before their face." It's not merely a recitation but an act of making something plainly visible and available for consideration and deliberation, akin to laying out terms for acceptance or rejection. This emphasizes the transparency and gravity of the covenant proposal. It implies full disclosure.
all these words (אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, et kol-haddevarim ha'elleh):
- All these words: Signifies the entirety and completeness of God's message from Exodus 19:3-6. Moses delivered the divine message faithfully, without alteration, addition, or omission. This emphasizes his fidelity as God's messenger and the authoritative source of the terms being presented. It points to the directness of divine revelation.
that the LORD (יְהוָה, YHVH):
- The LORD (Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel, His absolute sovereignty, and His authority as the one initiating the covenant. It reminds the audience that these "words" originate from the Creator and Deliverer of Israel.
had commanded him (צִוָּה אֹתוֹ, tzivvah oto):
- Had commanded him: Underlines the divine imperative and authority behind the message. Moses was not improvising or summarizing; he was relaying a direct, authoritative command. This highlights the foundational principle of divine revelation: God speaks, and His people must listen and obey.
Word-Groups / Phrase Analysis:
"So Moses came and called the elders of the people": This phrase establishes Moses' active and authoritative role as the intermediary. He initiated the formal assembly, not passively waiting. It also highlights the chain of communication: God to Moses, then Moses to the representative leaders of the nation, indicating an orderly and intentional process for conveying divine will.
"and set before them all these words": This phrase speaks to the profound act of revelation. It emphasizes that Moses meticulously presented the entirety of God's message. The phrase "set before them" implies a solemn, deliberate, and public act, demanding attention and a clear response. It was not a private audience, but a formal unveiling of God's terms for His chosen nation.
"that the LORD had commanded him": This clause serves as a critical disclaimer and an affirmation of divine authority. It firmly attributes the origin of "all these words" to Yahweh, God Himself. This ensures that the people understand they are hearing God's direct and complete instructions, not Moses' interpretation or human counsel. It underpins the weight and necessity of their response.
Exodus 19 7 Bonus section
The act of "setting before them" (וַיָּשֶׂם לִפְנֵיהֶם) implies more than just verbal delivery. In ancient Near Eastern covenants, terms were often laid out, sometimes even in written form, to be seen, considered, and affirmed. While the Law would later be written on tablets, here, the phrase suggests a highly formalized presentation that demanded serious attention and a public declaration of intent. This ensures the covenant was entered into consciously by the entire body of Israel, through their chosen representatives. This systematic and transparent approach emphasizes God's desire for an obedient, yet freely chosen, relationship with His people.
Exodus 19 7 Commentary
Exodus 19:7 depicts the vital phase of mediating God's covenant offer to Israel. Moses, having received the direct divine communication on Mount Sinai (Exo 19:3-6), descends and meticulously convenes the tribal elders, acting as the nation's elected representatives. This was not a casual debriefing but a formal assembly where Moses "set before them" – a phrase implying a deliberate and complete presentation – "all these words" which the LORD had precisely commanded him. This verse highlights Moses' unwavering faithfulness as God's chosen messenger and mediator, ensuring the integrity and authority of the divine message were preserved. The process reflects God's desire for His people to enter into a relationship with Him based on full disclosure and informed consent. It establishes the chain of authority and revelation crucial to the Sinai covenant and future interactions between God and Israel, ensuring that the covenant's terms were known and understood by the responsible leadership, paving the way for the nation's unified response in the subsequent verse.