Exodus 24:11 kjv

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

Exodus 24:11 nkjv

But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Exodus 24:11 niv

But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Exodus 24:11 esv

And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

Exodus 24:11 nlt

And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!

Exodus 24 verses

Exodus 24 11 Meaning

Exodus 24:11 describes a profound moment where the seventy elders of Israel, along with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, witnessed a manifestation of the God of Israel without suffering His divine wrath. Despite beholding the divine presence, they were divinely protected and shared a covenant meal in the presence of God, symbolizing peace, fellowship, and the ratification of the covenant.

Exodus 24 11 Context

Exodus 24 marks a pivotal moment in the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Following the giving of the Ten Commandments (Ex 20) and various laws (Ex 21-23), God commands Moses to bring Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders to Him on the mountain for a closer encounter (Ex 24:1). Moses first relays God's words to the people, who agree to obey. He then builds an altar, offers burnt and peace offerings, and seals the covenant by sprinkling blood on the altar and the people. Immediately after this formal covenant ratification (Ex 24:3-8), the elders are invited up the mountain for this unique encounter described in Ex 24:9-11. The previous verse (Ex 24:10) specifically mentions them seeing the "God of Israel" and the "sapphire pavement." This meal confirms the established covenant, emphasizing fellowship and peace rather than judgment, a stark contrast to the initial terrifying appearance of God on Sinai. Historically, covenant ratifications in the ancient Near East often included a meal, symbolizing unity and commitment among the parties involved.

Exodus 24 11 Word analysis

• וְאֶל (ve'el) "And toward/upon": This conjunction and preposition connect the actions of the preceding verses (Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders going up) directly to God. It highlights their movement into His presence.

• אֲצִילֵי (atzilei) "nobles/elect/chiefs": Derives from the root אָצַל (atzal), meaning to set aside, join, or differentiate. These were not common people but chosen leaders, representatives who were distinguished from the general populace. Their status allows them privileged access that others are denied. This highlights a principle of divine delegation and chosen representatives in leadership.

• בְּנֵי (benei) "sons of": A common Hebrew construct used to denote lineage or belonging, reinforcing that these nobles belonged to the nation of Israel.

• יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael) "Israel": Refers to the collective nation of the twelve tribes, emphasizing that this extraordinary event involved the leadership of God's covenant people.

• לֹא (lo) "not": A strong negation, indicating absolute protection from harm.

• שָׁלַח (shalach) "stretch out/send": In this context, used idiomatically with "hand" (yado). It signifies refraining from harm or judgment. Elsewhere, "stretching out a hand" often implies taking action, frequently punitive or destructive, so here it means the opposite.

• יָדוֹ (yado) "His hand": A anthropomorphic representation of God's power, authority, and intervention. The implication is that God, who has the power to destroy, chose not to exercise it against them. This emphasizes divine mercy and grace within the covenant.

• וַיֶּחֱזוּ (vayechezku) "and they beheld/saw clearly": This verb is stronger than ra'ah (saw), often indicating a vision, deep perception, or profound seeing of something specific and profound, sometimes with a prophetic connotation. It suggests a focused, clear apprehension of a divine manifestation, not just a casual glance.

• אֶת (et) "accusative particle": Direct object marker, clearly indicating that הָאֱלֹהִים is what was directly perceived.

• הָאֱלֹהִים (ha'Elohim) "the God": The definite article ha- emphasizes the singular, true God, the specific God of Israel, distinguishing Him from any pagan deities. This underscores the exclusive covenant.

• וַיֹּאכְלוּ (vayyo'khelu) "and they ate": Refers to the sharing of a meal. Eating in God's presence after a divine encounter often signifies peace, reconciliation, and intimate fellowship, especially within the context of covenant ratification. It indicates the removal of fear and establishment of communion.

• וַיִּשְׁתּוּ (vayyishtu) "and they drank": Completes the meal, reinforcing the same themes of fellowship, peace, and covenant communion established through the act of eating.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And upon the nobles of the sons of Israel, He did not stretch out His hand": This phrase highlights God's unique protection and grace for those who were called into His presence. Despite the extreme holiness of God, and the danger for humanity to approach Him unbidden (as seen with warnings not to touch the mountain in Ex 19), these chosen leaders were supernaturally preserved. This emphasizes divine condescension and merciful allowance. It also implicitly stands in contrast to common Ancient Near Eastern beliefs where encounters with deities were often fraught with extreme danger or immediate death.
  • "And they beheld God, and ate and drank": This sequence of actions is profoundly significant. First, they saw a manifestation of God's presence, an incredible privilege previously thought impossible (as conveyed in Ex 33:20, where seeing God's full "face" means death). This "beholding" was a direct, albeit accommodated, perception of God's glory (Ex 24:10 describes the sapphire pavement, possibly implying the platform upon which God's presence rested). Following this awesome sight, the act of eating and drinking in God's presence symbolizes a covenant meal, sealing the new relationship with fellowship, intimacy, and shared peace. It suggests that they not only survived the encounter but thrived in it, sharing sustenance with the divine. This is a powerful demonstration of God's desire for intimate communion with His people through the terms of His covenant.

Exodus 24 11 Bonus section

The nature of the "seeing God" in Exodus 24:10-11 has been a subject of much discussion among biblical scholars. It is not presented as seeing God's ultimate essence (His "face" or true form, as per Ex 33:20 or John 1:18), but rather a "beholding" (חָזָה, chazah) of a manifestation or an accommodated theophany. They saw the "God of Israel," yet the text only describes the base of His throne or a paved work beneath His feet, hinting at a revealed presence without a direct physical representation of the Almighty's unapproachable form. This kind of vision is consistent with other Old Testament theophanies where God reveals Himself in ways humanity can bear, often in a glory-cloud, fire, or through angelic intermediaries, setting boundaries for human perception of the divine. This instance emphasizes God's sovereign control over revelation and His desire to establish fellowship within defined covenant terms.

Exodus 24 11 Commentary

Exodus 24:11 presents an unparalleled moment of divine intimacy and privilege for Israel's leadership. The seventy-four men—Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders—were granted a vision of the "God of Israel" in a tangible form that accommodated human perception, specifically mentioned as a "sapphire pavement" and something like the "body of heaven in its clearness." What makes this truly exceptional is God's active protection: He "did not stretch out His hand" to harm them. This verse stands in stark contrast to the severe warnings against unauthorized approach to Sinai, highlighting divine grace that enables finite beings to encounter the infinite without perishing.

The subsequent act of eating and drinking in God's presence signifies far more than a simple meal. It represents a covenant meal, akin to shared feasts that sealed agreements in ancient cultures. For the leaders of Israel to partake in such a meal, immediately after beholding a manifestation of God's glory, indicates a deep and personal communion established under the ratified covenant. It symbolizes peace, acceptance, and reconciliation between God and His people, allowing for fellowship rather than judgment. This event underscores God's desire for relationship, even in His overwhelming holiness, laying a foundational concept for understanding God's covenant with humanity, culminating in the New Covenant and the communal meal of the Eucharist where believers partake in fellowship with Christ.