Exodus 24:10 kjv

And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

Exodus 24:10 nkjv

and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.

Exodus 24:10 niv

and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.

Exodus 24:10 esv

and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.

Exodus 24:10 nlt

There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.

Exodus 24 verses

Exodus 24 10 Meaning

Exodus 24:10 describes a profound visual experience granted to Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel on Mount Sinai. They "saw the God of Israel," not His direct essence or face, but rather a manifestation of His glorious presence, particularly "under His feet." This appearance resembled a paved work of pure sapphire, luminous and clear, much like the very body of the heavens in its absolute purity and brilliance. It was a partial yet stunning revelation of divine majesty and holiness, emphasizing God's transcendence and purity, confirming His real presence as the Covenant Maker.

Exodus 24 10 Context

Exodus chapter 24 details the formal ratification of the covenant between God and the nation of Israel. Following the giving of the Ten Commandments and additional laws (chapters 20-23), Moses communicates these stipulations to the people, who solemnly agree to obey (24:3). The chapter describes a sacrificial ceremony (24:4-8) sealing the covenant with blood, symbolizing atonement and agreement. This vision of God's glorious presence (Ex 24:9-11) is the climax of the covenant ceremony, where the representatives of Israel are invited up the mountain for an intimate, confirmatory divine encounter. This is a crucial moment demonstrating the reality and majesty of the Covenant Partner, providing an assurance of God's presence among them, despite His unapproachable holiness. It sets the stage for Moses to receive the stone tablets inscribed with the Law (Ex 24:12ff). Historically, such communal covenant ratifications involving a visible sign were not uncommon in the ancient Near East, but this divine manifestation was unique, asserting the superiority of the God of Israel over any contemporary deities, who often lacked such authentic, glorious revelation.

Exodus 24 10 Word analysis

• וַיִּרְאוּ (va-yir'u) - "and they saw": This is a waw-consecutive imperfect verb, indicating a sequential action. The subjects are the previously mentioned Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders. The verb implies a literal visual perception, but the object of their sight is limited, not the full face or essence of God (as Ex 33:20 confirms), but His glorious manifestation. It is a privileged, mediated vision.
• אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (et Elohei Yisrael) - "the God of Israel": Et is the direct object marker. Elohei (construct form of Elohim) means "God of." The plural Elohim (God) here refers to the singular, true God, often conveying majesty, power, and the fullness of divine being. This title emphasizes His covenant relationship and exclusive claim over Israel. It grounds the transcendent vision in the specific historical and national reality of His chosen people.
• וְתַחַת רַגְלָיו (v'tachat raglav) - "and under His feet": v'tachat means "and beneath/under." Raglav is "His feet." This phrase is crucial. It clearly states they did not see God directly "face-to-face" in His full form. Instead, they saw what was under Him. This maintains God's transcendence and majesty while confirming His immanent presence. It suggests a divine throne or sovereign posture, aligning with ancient Near Eastern and biblical imagery of divine kingship where a footstool signifies authority and dominion.
• כְּמַעֲשֵׂה לִבְנַת הַסַּפִּיר (k'ma'aseh livnat hasappir) - "like the appearance/work of a sapphire pavement/slab":
  • k'ma'aseh: "like the work/appearance/making of." It denotes a resemblance, indicating this was a perception, not a literal substance they could touch, but rather a visual quality or construct.
  • livnat: from the root lavan (to be white, pure, bright). Can refer to a 'slab', 'pavement', or 'brightness/whiteness of'. Here, it suggests a flat, pure, shining surface.
  • hasappir: "the sapphire." A highly prized, clear, blue precious stone in antiquity (likely what we now call lapis lazuli or true sapphire). Its deep blue color evoked the sky and celestial realms, symbolizing purity, value, royalty, and heavenly origin.
• וּכְעֶצֶם הַשָּׁמַיִם לָטֹהַר (u'k'etzem hashamayim la'tohar) - "and like the very body/essence of heaven for clearness/purity":
  • u'k'etzem: "and like the very substance/body/essence of." Etzem can refer to a bone, body, substance, or very nature of something. Here, it conveys the intrinsic nature or structure of the heavens.
  • hashamayim: "the heavens" or "the sky." This reinforces the celestial, otherworldly, and vast nature of what they saw.
  • la'tohar: "for/as for purity" or "clearness." Tohar signifies absolute purity, brilliance, and translucence. This phrase highlights the magnificent clarity, faultless radiance, and awe-inspiring, ethereal beauty of the divine manifestation. It's not just blue, but crystal clear, shining, like the clearest blue sky on a bright day.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They saw the God of Israel": This highlights the direct nature of the encounter (a privileged vision), while the subsequent description qualifies the manner of seeing. It underscores God's personal revelation to His chosen representatives, foundational to the covenant.
• "and under His feet like the work of a sapphire pavement": This defines the specific aspect of the vision – not His face, but the glorious manifestation beneath His implied form or presence. The sapphire evokes extreme value, purity, and a connection to the divine firmament (like the "sea of glass" in Rev 4:6, or the sapphire throne in Ezek 1:26). It symbolizes a stable, brilliant foundation for God's dominion.
• "and like the very body of heaven for clearness": This emphasizes the unblemished, luminous, and expansive quality of what they saw. It connects the appearance directly to the celestial realm, suggesting that the purity and light seen were not merely material but reflective of the divine essence of purity, inaccessible and gloriously uncontainable by human limitations. This clear brilliance counters any potential for confusion or misinterpretation, presenting an absolute standard of divine flawlessness.

Exodus 24 10 Bonus section

The vision in Exodus 24:10 serves as a unique bridge between human experience and divine majesty. Unlike later prophets who might see an individual aspect of God's throne or glory, here, the representative leaders of an entire nation collectively witnessed this theophany. It was a tangible assurance that their covenant was not with an abstract idea or a powerless idol, but with a real, glorious, and transcendent God. This privileged glimpse provided a profound psychological and spiritual anchor for the newly formed nation of Israel, strengthening their faith in God's presence and power as they prepared for their wilderness journey and the building of the Tabernacle. It signifies the immense privilege of being chosen by God and entering into His sacred presence.

Exodus 24 10 Commentary

Exodus 24:10 marks a profoundly significant, yet carefully bounded, divine revelation. For the first time in such a representative capacity, Moses and the elders were granted a tangible sight of God's manifest presence, confirming His reality and sovereign authority. The description "under His feet" is crucial, underscoring God's transcendence and His purposeful self-limitation in revelation. They did not see God's "face" or essential form (Ex 33:20), safeguarding His holy and incomprehensible nature. What they did behold was an incredible spectacle of purity, glory, and celestial beauty, symbolized by the brilliant sapphire pavement.

This sapphire foundation, gleaming like the purest heavens, communicates several key truths:

1. God's Holiness and Purity: The translucent and flawless nature ("tohar") of the vision underscores God's absolute holiness, separating Him from all created things and imperfect humanity.
2. Divine Sovereignty and Steadfastness: A "pavement" under "feet" suggests a firm foundation and a majestic, enthroned posture, signaling God's stable and unwavering dominion. This vision undergirds the covenant, confirming the unshakable nature of their Covenant Partner.
3. Heavenly Origin and Transcendence: The deep blue of sapphire combined with the "body of heaven" points to God's otherworldliness and His dwelling beyond the earthly realm, affirming that He is not merely a local deity but the sovereign of the cosmos.
4. Promise and Prophecy: This vision foreshadows later detailed revelations of God's throne in heavenly places, as seen in the prophet Ezekiel's vision (Ezek 1:26, 10:1) and John's Revelation (Rev 4:6). It provides a glimpse into the glory that awaits believers who will one day truly "see Him as He is" (1 Jn 3:2, Rev 22:4).

This encounter, far from a casual viewing, would have instilled a profound sense of awe, reverence, and confidence in the reality of the God who called them. It confirmed His power to sustain the covenant and His desire to dwell among His people, paving the way for the instructions regarding the Tabernacle, His earthly dwelling place.