Exodus 24:15 kjv

And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

Exodus 24:15 nkjv

Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.

Exodus 24:15 niv

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it,

Exodus 24:15 esv

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.

Exodus 24:15 nlt

Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it.

Exodus 24 verses

Exodus 24 15 Meaning

Exodus 24:15 describes a pivotal moment where Moses ascends Mount Sinai as a direct act of obedience to God's command (Exod 24:12), immediately after the sealing of the covenant. As he ascends, a cloud supernaturally covers the mountaintop. This cloud is not a natural meteorological phenomenon, but a visible manifestation of the Lord's glorious presence, signifying His holy presence, unapproachability, and the impending divine revelation that Moses is about to receive directly from God. It marks the transition from communal covenant-making to individual, intimate communion with God on the sacred mountain.

Exodus 24 15 Context

Exodus 24 details the formal ratification of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. Chapters 20-23 presented the Decalogue and other laws (the Book of the Covenant). Exodus 24 begins with God summoning Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders to come up the mountain to worship, though Moses alone would draw near to God (Exod 24:1-2). Moses relays all of God's words to the people, who respond, "All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do" (Exod 24:3). The covenant is then formalized through a sacrificial ceremony: an altar is built, young men offer burnt offerings and peace offerings, and Moses sprinkles half the blood on the altar and half on the people, symbolizing the binding agreement (Exod 24:4-8).

Following this, the seventy elders, Aaron, and Nadab and Abihu ascend with Moses and see God, experiencing a remarkable vision of God's presence with a pavement of sapphire beneath His feet (Exod 24:9-11). It is then, in verse 12, that the Lord calls Moses alone to ascend further, into the very cloud on the mountain peak, to receive the stone tablets of the Law. Exodus 24:15 marks the precise moment of Moses' final ascent, signifying his singular, mediatorial role in drawing near to God's manifested glory, separate from even the elders, setting the stage for the direct revelation of the Law and the instructions for the Tabernacle.

Exodus 24 15 Word analysis

• And Moses went up (וַיַּעַל מֹשֶׁה - wayyaʿal Mosheh):

  • וַיַּעַל (wayyaʿal): From the verb עָלָה (ʿalah), meaning "to go up, ascend, arise." The waw consecutive perfect ("and he ascended") emphasizes Moses' immediate and specific action. It highlights a purposeful, commanded ascent, not a casual walk. This action directly follows God's call in Exod 24:12, demonstrating Moses' obedience and unique access to God's presence.
  • מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh): Moses. His individual agency and unparalleled relationship with Yahweh are highlighted. He is singled out for a unique encounter.
  • Significance: Moses' ascent is both physical and spiritual, representing drawing nearer to God. It also points to his unique mediatorial role between God and Israel.

• into the mount (אֶל־הָהָר - ʾel-ha-har):

  • אֶל (ʾel): Preposition meaning "to, into, toward." It signifies direction towards a specific destination.
  • הָהָר (ha-har): The definite article "הָ" (ha-) meaning "the," specifying this is the well-known mountain, Mount Sinai (also called Horeb), which has already been established as the mountain of God's presence and revelation since Exod 3.
  • Significance: Mountains in the ancient Near East were often associated with deity and were considered sacred. Here, Sinai becomes the earthly point of encounter for the transcendent God. This location is holy ground due to God's presence (Exod 3:5), symbolizing a place where heaven and earth intersect for divine revelation.

• and a cloud covered (וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן - wayəḵas heʿanan):

  • וַיְכַס (wayəḵas): From the verb כָּסָה (kasah), "to cover, conceal, clothe." This is a divine action, not a passive happening. The cloud actively "covers" the mountain.
  • הֶעָנָן (heʿanan): From עָנָן (ʿanan), "cloud." Again, the definite article "הֶ" (he-) indicates the specific cloud associated with God's presence, not just any ordinary cloud. This "cloud" is a recurring biblical motif (pillar of cloud, Shekinah glory) for Yahweh's manifestation (theophany).
  • Significance: This is not just atmospheric moisture; it is a supernatural manifestation of God's presence (Exod 19:9, Exod 40:34-35, Num 9:15-22). The cloud served multiple functions:
    • Concealment: Protecting observers from the full glory of God, which could be lethal (Exod 33:20). God dwells in thick darkness (1 Kgs 8:12, Ps 97:2).
    • Revelation: Paradoxically, while concealing, the cloud is the visible sign that God is present and active.
    • Boundary: It establishes a sacred boundary, demarcating the holy space from the common (Exod 19:12).
    • Separation: It separates Moses from the rest of the people, signifying his unique divine encounter.

• the mount (אֶת־הָהָר - ʾet-ha-har):

  • אֶת־ (ʾet-): Direct object marker.
  • הָהָר (ha-har): The definite mountain, Mount Sinai.
  • Significance: The entire mountain, not just a small spot, becomes enveloped in God's presence, indicating the vastness and encompassing nature of God's glory.

Words-Group analysis:

• "And Moses went up into the mount": This phrase encapsulates Moses' unique, divinely appointed role as the intermediary. He is singled out from the entire assembly, and even the seventy elders, to directly meet with God. His obedience to ascend further is key to receiving the Law.
• "and a cloud covered the mount": This is a direct statement of theophany. The visible manifestation of God's presence, shrouded in a cloud, underscores His transcendent holiness, the awe-inspiring nature of His presence, and His self-revelation, which simultaneously conceals and unveils. It prepares the reader for the intense spiritual experience Moses is about to undergo within this divine covering. The dual action—Moses ascending and the cloud covering—highlights the interplay between human initiative (in obedience) and divine action in a covenant relationship.

Exodus 24 15 Bonus section

The "cloud" motif in Exodus 24:15 foreshadows the divine indwelling in the Tabernacle (Exod 40:34-35) and later the Temple (1 Kgs 8:10-11), where God's glory similarly descends in a cloud to take up residence among His people. This highlights God's desire to dwell with humanity, albeit veiled, to accommodate their limitations. Moses' entry into this cloud can be seen as a prefigurement of the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ, who uniquely reveals God's glory in the flesh (Jn 1:14), effectively piercing the veil for humanity to draw near to God (Heb 10:19-20). The thick darkness and cloud on Sinai symbolize God's impenetrable holiness, but also His choosing to reveal Himself to specific individuals for a divine purpose.

Exodus 24 15 Commentary

Exodus 24:15 marks a pivotal transition in the Sinaitic covenant narrative. Following the sealing ceremony, Moses is called to a deeper, more profound communion with God. His ascent is an act of both privilege and solitary duty, setting him apart as the primary mediator of the Law. The immediate appearance of the cloud as he ascends is the visible evidence of Yahweh's glory descending, embracing the mountain, and, by extension, enveloping Moses. This is the Shekinah, the dwelling presence of God, here manifested in a tangible yet mysterious form that inspires awe and reverent fear.

The cloud serves to emphasize the ineffability and incomprehensibility of God, who, in His holiness, remains largely hidden even in His revelation. It protects both God's infinite glory from the finite human eye and frail humanity from the full, overwhelming force of divine power. This divine covering also sets the stage for the specific revelations concerning the Ten Commandments and the blueprint for the Tabernacle, underscoring that the divine instruction originates directly from God's sacred presence. This act of divine concealment for purposes of revelation establishes the reverential posture required when approaching the Most High and foreshadows the Most Holy Place within the Tabernacle, perpetually veiled by the cloud of glory.