Exodus 24:9 kjv
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
Exodus 24:9 nkjv
Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
Exodus 24:9 niv
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up
Exodus 24:9 esv
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up,
Exodus 24:9 nlt
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain.
Exodus 24 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:20, 24 | The Lord came down on Mount Sinai... Go down and bring up Aaron with you... | God's descent and controlled access to the mountain. |
| Ex 24:1-2 | And he said to Moses, "Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel... but Moses alone shall come near the Lord." | Divine command for this ascent, highlighting Moses' unique role. |
| Ex 24:10-11 | They saw the God of Israel... and upon the nobles of the people of Israel he laid not his hand... | What this group saw, their privileged and protected experience. |
| Num 11:16-17 | "Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them..." | Later appointment of 70 elders to share Moses' spirit. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer... and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord... and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them. | Later consequence of Nadab and Abihu's sin despite initial privilege. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart... | Criteria for approaching God's holy presence. |
| Deut 1:9-13 | "I said to you at that time, 'I am not able to bear you by myself... Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men...'" | Historical establishment of elders to assist in governance. |
| Ezek 1:26-28 | And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne... this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. | Prophetic vision of God's glory, echoing divine encounter. |
| Isa 6:1 | In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up... | Prophetic vision of God's majesty and holiness. |
| Ex 33:11 | Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. | Moses' unique relationship with God, distinguishing him further. |
| Ex 19:10-12 | Go to the people and consecrate them today... and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day... You shall set limits for the people all around... | Emphasizes the required sanctification and boundaries for approaching God. |
| Deut 4:10-12 | On the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb... The Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire... | Recap of the fearful yet direct encounter at Horeb (Sinai). |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession... | New Covenant priesthood for all believers, reflecting broader access. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | New Covenant invitation to draw near to God through Christ. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... | Access to God's presence made possible by Christ's sacrifice. |
| John 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. | New Testament understanding of ultimate seeing of God through Christ. |
| Gal 3:19 | Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. | Law given through a mediator (Moses), highlighting the Old Covenant structure. |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. | God's unapproachable holiness, emphasizing the uniqueness of these Sinai encounters. |
| Heb 12:18-24 | For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched... but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | Contrast between the Old Covenant fear-inducing Sinai and New Covenant grace-filled Zion. |
Exodus 24 verses
Exodus 24 9 Meaning
Exodus 24:9 records the ascent of Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel onto Mount Sinai, a designated group called by God for a special audience. This event immediately followed the covenant ratification ceremony (Ex 24:3-8), serving as a further sealing and confirmation of the covenant between God and the nation of Israel. This selected company, representing all Israel, was granted unique proximity to God's presence, signifying a deeper level of communion and authorization, witnessing His glory and the establishment of His law.
Exodus 24 9 Context
Exodus 24:9 stands within the profound narrative of the Mosaic Covenant's establishment at Mount Sinai. The preceding verses (Ex 24:3-8) detail the people's collective affirmation ("All that the Lord has spoken we will do"), the writing of the laws, and the solemn blood covenant ceremony, which visibly and legally sealed the agreement. This verse then describes the invitation to a select group of Israel's leadership to ascend the mountain further, to an even more immediate experience of God's presence, beyond the boundary set for the general populace in Exodus 19. It confirms the hierarchical nature of revelation and leadership under the Old Covenant, where direct access to God was limited, yet representative for the whole nation. The historical context reveals that the act of going "up" the mountain signified drawing near to God's holiness and power, a privilege guarded by divine command and associated with divine authority.
Exodus 24 9 Word analysis
Then (וַיַּעַל - VaYa'al): A waw-conversive (inverted perfect) construction indicating sequence. It translates as "and went up" or "ascended." This immediate sequence highlights the direct link to the covenant ratification (Ex 24:3-8). It implies a purposeful, divinely commanded ascent to a higher spiritual and physical plane, moving into the sacred sphere of God's presence.
Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Moshe): The preeminent prophet and mediator of the Old Covenant. His presence signifies the prophetic and administrative leadership through whom God spoke and led Israel. He uniquely conversed with God "face to face" (Num 12:7-8).
and Aaron (וְאַהֲרֹן - VeAharon): Moses' brother, designated by God as the first High Priest (Ex 28). His inclusion represents the Levitical priesthood and the cultic dimension of Israel's relationship with God, establishing proper worship.
Nadab (וְנָדָב - VeNadab) and Abihu (וַאֲבִיהוּא - VaAvihu): Aaron's eldest sons and future priestly heirs. Their presence underlines the unique privilege bestowed upon the priestly family and indicates the establishment of the Aaronic line as the inheritors of the sacred office, a significant honor that precedes their later, fatal transgression (Lev 10).
and seventy (וְשִׁבְעִים - VeShiv'im): This number carries symbolic significance in the Bible, often representing completeness or universality, particularly in a representational capacity. Examples include the 70 nations of the world (Gen 10), 70 souls of Jacob's household who entered Egypt (Gen 46:27), and the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus (Luke 10:1). In this context, the seventy elders represent the totality of the community, bearing witness and participating as delegates for the whole nation.
of the elders (מִזִּקְנֵי - MiZiknei): "Elders" (Zekenim) refers to experienced, respected leaders and representatives chosen for their wisdom and authority within their tribes or communities. They functioned as heads of families, judges, and administrators, signifying the civil and governmental leadership of Israel. Their inclusion validates the covenant by representatives from every segment of the nation.
of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): Refers to the collective nation, God's covenant people. Their leaders ascending confirms the covenant on behalf of the entire body.
Word Group: "Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu": This specific grouping represents the top echelon of spiritual leadership – prophetic (Moses) and priestly (Aaron and his sons). This emphasizes the divine structure of authority through which God chose to communicate and relate to His people under the Old Covenant. Their joint ascent indicates their primary roles in mediating God's will and performing sacred duties.
Word Group: "seventy of the elders of Israel": This signifies the representation of the entire nation, not merely the spiritual hierarchy. The elders acted as political and judicial representatives, ensuring that the covenant ratification was inclusive and binding upon all twelve tribes. This combination of spiritual and civic leadership underscores the comprehensive nature of the Sinai covenant affecting every aspect of Israelite life.
Exodus 24 9 Bonus section
The act of "going up" (Vayetza'al) in this context is deeply symbolic, representing a spiritual and physical movement into the immediate sphere of divine holiness. Mount Sinai, already consecrated (Ex 19), served as the ultimate threshold to God's visible glory. This distinct group's ascent beyond the boundaries set for the common people (Ex 19:23) indicates a profound separation and privilege, signifying their representative role for the entire congregation. Their experience, detailed in the following verses (Ex 24:10-11) where they "saw the God of Israel," emphasizes that God revealed Himself in a visible manifestation, though not necessarily His essence, thus not contradicting later declarations about His invisibility (John 1:18, 1 Tim 6:16). This unique vision and protection from harm ("he laid not his hand") highlights God's sovereignty and controlled revelation, preparing them to lead and transmit divine truths to the people. This episode contrasts with the universal, unrestricted access promised in the New Covenant through faith in Christ.
Exodus 24 9 Commentary
Exodus 24:9 records a pivotal moment of elevated privilege in the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant. After the nation affirmed their commitment to God's law, a specially selected group ascended Mount Sinai to a direct encounter with God. This included Moses, the supreme mediator; Aaron, the head of the priestly line; his two eldest sons, representing the future of the priesthood; and seventy elders, who embodied the collective civil leadership of the twelve tribes. Their ascent signifies a divinely orchestrated, higher confirmation of the covenant, allowing Israel's spiritual and civic leadership to directly witness God's manifest glory. This unparalleled proximity underscored God's majesty and holiness, yet also His condescending grace to invite chosen representatives near. It highlights the structured hierarchy through which God revealed Himself under the Old Covenant, contrasting with the New Covenant where, through Christ, all believers gain bold access to God's presence (Heb 10:19-20). This event validated their authority as divinely sanctioned leaders, making them eyewitnesses to God's glory and the sacred nature of His covenant with Israel.