Exodus 24:2 kjv

And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

Exodus 24:2 nkjv

And Moses alone shall come near the LORD, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with him."

Exodus 24:2 niv

but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him."

Exodus 24:2 esv

Moses alone shall come near to the LORD, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him."

Exodus 24:2 nlt

Only Moses is allowed to come near to the LORD. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him."

Exodus 24 verses

Exodus 24 2 Meaning

Exodus 24:2 outlines the highly exclusive and structured access to God on Mount Sinai during the covenant-making. It specifies that only Moses is permitted to approach the LORD most closely, emphasizing his unique mediatorial role. Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders, while granted a higher privilege than the general populace (mentioned in v. 1), are strictly prohibited from approaching as near as Moses. The rest of the Israelite community is altogether forbidden to ascend the mountain with him, reinforcing God's supreme holiness and the necessity of appointed mediation in drawing near to Him. This tiered access underscores divine order and separation.

Exodus 24 2 Context

Exodus chapter 24 details the formal ratification of the covenant between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, following the giving of the Ten Commandments. Verses 1 and 2 specifically set the stage for this momentous event by stipulating the precise protocol for approaching the Divine presence. In Exodus 24:1, God invites Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders to "worship afar off." Verse 2, then, further refines this invitation by introducing even stricter, hierarchical access levels. This arrangement occurs before Moses ascends for forty days to receive the tablets of the law, solidifying the legal and spiritual framework for the relationship between a holy God and His chosen people. Historically, this moment signifies the formal birth of Israel as a priestly kingdom, governed directly by God's decrees, distinct from all other nations. The emphasis on carefully delimited access strongly contrasts with surrounding polytheistic cultures where deity interaction often involved less strict adherence to divine sanctity, thereby reinforcing the incomparable holiness of YHWH.

Exodus 24 2 Word analysis

• And Moses (וּמֹשֶׁה - u-Mosheh): The conjunctive "and" connects this verse to the preceding one (Exod 24:1), indicating a continuation of instruction regarding the ascent. "Moses" (מֹשֶׁה) is uniquely singled out by divine decree. He is the central figure in the Sinai narrative, serving as the sole divine spokesperson and intercessor between God and Israel. His name, often associated with "drawing out" (Exod 2:10), prefigures his role in leading Israel out of bondage and drawing them closer to God.

• alone (לְבַדּוֹ - levaddow): This emphasizes the singularity of Moses' privilege and responsibility. It conveys exclusivity; no one else, not even the revered priests or elders, is granted this closest proximity to God. This separation highlights the extraordinary nature of his direct communion with YHWH and establishes his unparalleled position as mediator of the old covenant. This term underscores a distinct level of spiritual authority and access.

• shall come near (יִגַּשׁ - yiggash): Derived from the root נגשׁ (nagash), meaning "to draw near," "to approach." This term describes a physical and spiritual movement into the presence of the LORD. Its usage here in the imperfect tense conveys a command or strong imperative – it is what Moses must do. It is not an invitation but an exclusive directive.

• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH, Yahweh): The sacred covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed, and redemptive nature. Drawing near to YHWH is a privilege reserved for those divinely permitted, given His holy character. The verse emphasizes not just coming near to a "god" but to the specific God of Israel who established the covenant.

• but they (וְהֵם - ve-hem): "They" refers to Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders, who were explicitly mentioned in the preceding verse (Exod 24:1) as being called up with Moses to "worship afar off." This phrase contrasts their allowed proximity with Moses' singular privilege.

• shall not come near (לֹא יִגַּשׁוּ - lo yiggashu): The negative particle לֹא (lo) combined with the imperfect verb "shall come near" forms an absolute prohibition. Despite being privileged individuals called up to a certain level of proximity, they are explicitly forbidden from transcending that limit. This prohibition highlights the graduated nature of holiness and divine access.

• neither shall the people (וְהָעָם לֹא - ve-ha'am lo): "The people" (עָם - 'am) refers to the general Israelite congregation, distinct from the designated leaders. This marks the most restrictive level of access. The repetition of the negative particle reinforces the absolute boundary.

• go up with him (יַעֲלוּ עִמּוֹ - ya'alu 'immo): "Go up" (עָלָה - 'alah) specifically refers to ascending the mountain. "With him" (עִמּוֹ) further clarifies that their prohibition extends to accompanying Moses even to his lesser level of ascent, let alone to the immediate presence of YHWH. This phrase signifies a complete separation of the common people from the divine interface at Sinai, emphasizing their need for mediation and strict adherence to boundaries.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And Moses alone shall come near the LORD": This phrase establishes the unique position and divinely appointed role of Moses. "Alone" (לְבַדּוֹ) signifies that no other human possessed the same level of immediate access to the covenant God. This underscores the intense holiness of YHWH and the exclusive nature of direct divine communication through His chosen mediator. It foreshadows the necessity of a singular, perfect Mediator for humanity.
  • "but they shall not come near": This sets a distinct boundary for the priestly line (Aaron and his sons) and the revered elders. While privileged above the common people (having been called up to a certain distance in v.1), their access is clearly circumscribed. This demonstrates a tiered structure of approach, highlighting that even those appointed for religious service operate under strict divine parameters regarding closeness to God.
  • "neither shall the people go up with him": This explicitly separates the general Israelite population from any ascent towards the divine presence. They are completely excluded from ascending the mountain beyond its designated base, reinforcing the profound sanctity of God and the need for designated, qualified representatives to mediate any form of communion between God and the nation. It reflects the immense gulf between a holy God and sinful humanity, only bridgeable through divine initiative and chosen channels.

Exodus 24 2 Bonus section

• The layered approach described in Exod 24:1-2 sets the architectural and procedural precedent for the tabernacle and later the Temple. The outer court (for all Israelites), the Holy Place (for priests), and the Holy of Holies (for the high priest alone, once a year) visually mirror the restricted access outlined at Sinai.
• Moses is here a prime example of a prophet in Old Testament typology, demonstrating both unparalleled proximity to God for divine communication and yet distinct separation from the people whom he serves. His ability to draw "near" signifies more than physical proximity; it speaks to a deep, transformative spiritual encounter with God, despite limitations on seeing God's full glory (Exod 33:20).
• The scene highlights the distinction between a corporate, covenant relationship (Israel with God) and individual, commissioned roles within that relationship (Moses' unique mediation, Aaron's priestly role, elders as representatives). Each role has a specific level of responsibility and access.
• This verse implicitly polemicizes against the human inclination to define one's own terms of approach to God or to assume universal direct access. Instead, it asserts divine sovereignty in establishing the parameters of communion with Him.

Exodus 24 2 Commentary

Exodus 24:2 is a profound statement about divine holiness, human access, and the role of mediation in the Old Covenant. It establishes an absolute hierarchy of approach to God, not based on merit, but on divine decree and election. Moses' unique "aloneness" in approaching YHWH underscores the unparalleled intimacy of his relationship with God, highlighting his singular function as the divinely appointed go-between. This role is crucial because the supreme holiness of God on Sinai rendered direct, unmediated contact perilous for the general populace, as emphasized by previous warnings (Exod 19:12, 21-23). The progressive limitation on access—Moses alone, then Aaron/elders "not near," then the people "not go up"—visually demonstrates the terrifying purity of God and the necessary awe with which He must be approached.

This verse foreshadows critical theological themes: the indispensable need for a mediator due to human sin and God's holiness; the establishment of priesthood as a distinct, yet still limited, channel of access; and the ultimate realization of unmediated, yet reverent, access through Christ in the New Covenant (Heb 10:19-22). The restrictions here emphasize the weight and privilege of covenant initiation. Without strict divine protocols, Israel would have faced divine wrath instead of covenant blessing. It sets the precedent for all future Israelite worship, where the temple, the holy place, and the holy of holies reflect these very principles of graduated access to God. The Old Testament consistently shows that uncommissioned attempts to draw near (like Nadab and Abihu, Uzzah) result in judgment, confirming the gravity of this divine ordinance.