Exodus 31 18

Exodus 31:18 kjv

And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18 nkjv

And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18 niv

When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18 esv

And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18 nlt

When the LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God.

Exodus 31 verses

Exodus 31 18 Meaning

Exodus 31:18 marks the completion of God's direct communion with Moses on Mount Sinai concerning the covenant instructions and Tabernacle details. It states that God physically bestowed upon Moses two stone tablets, serving as a perpetual witness to the covenant stipulations. Crucially, these tablets, containing the Ten Commandments, were not written by human hands but directly inscribed by God's own divine power, metaphorically described as the "finger of God." This signifies the absolute divine authorship, authority, and permanence of the Law given to Israel.

Exodus 31 18 Context

Exodus chapter 31 concludes a substantial section of God's revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai (starting from Ex 25). This entire section details the elaborate instructions for building the Tabernacle, consecrating the priests, making the sacred vestments, and specific laws regarding the Sabbath. Chapters 25-31 describe a blueprint for worship and the tangible presence of God among His people. Exodus 31:18 serves as the culmination of this period of instruction, signifying that God has finished speaking and is now delivering the physical embodiment of the covenant. Immediately following this verse, the narrative dramatically shifts to Israel's rebellion with the Golden Calf in chapter 32, which underscores the profound contrast between God's holiness and generosity in giving the Law and Israel's immediate failure to uphold it. Historically, this event at Sinai established Israel as a distinct nation bound by a unique covenant with God, foundational to their identity and subsequent history.

Exodus 31 18 Word analysis

• And he gave: וַיִּתֵּן (va-yit-ten). Implies direct divine action; God is the active subject, bestowing something significant. This highlights God's initiative in establishing the covenant.
• unto Moses: אֶל-מֹשֶׁה (el-Moshe). Moses serves as the direct recipient of divine revelation and the essential mediator for the people of Israel.
• when he had made an end of communing with him: כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ (ke-khal-lo-to le-dab-ber it-to).
  • כְּכַלֹּתוֹ (ke-khal-lo-to): "when he finished/completed." Signifies the end of a specific, intensive period of verbal communication between God and Moses, indicating the completion of the Tabernacle instructions and other commands.
  • לְדַבֵּר (le-dab-ber): "to speak, commune." This verb implies direct, purposeful, and often intimate communication, distinct from prophetic visions, emphasizing the face-to-face nature of Moses' encounters with God on Sinai.
• upon mount Sinai: בְּהַר סִינַי (be-har Si-nay). This mountain is the hallowed site of the divine manifestation (theophany), where God revealed His Law and entered into a covenant with Israel. It is synonymous with the historical giving of the Law.
• two tables of testimony: שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת הָעֵדֻת (sh'nei lu-khot ha-e-dut).
  • two: Indicates two distinct tablets, possibly for divine commands (Godward duties) and human commands (manward duties), or perhaps copies for both God and Israel as parties to the covenant.
  • tables: לֻחֹת (lu-khot): refers to flat, rigid surfaces typically used for writing.
  • of testimony: הָעֵדֻת (ha-e-dut): means "the witness" or "the testimony." These tablets served as concrete evidence and a perpetual witness of the covenant and God's holy requirements. They would stand as a witness against Israel in case of disobedience and for God's faithfulness. This is why the Ark is sometimes called the Ark of the Testimony (Ex 25:21-22).
• tables of stone: לֻחֹת אֶבֶן (lu-khot e-ven). The material, stone, denotes permanence, durability, and the unchangeable nature of God's eternal word. It contrasts with anything temporary or mutable, emphasizing the unwavering authority of the Law.
• written with the finger of God: כְּתֻבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים (k'tu-vim be-ets-ba Elohim). This is the verse's profound theological climax.
  • written: כְּתֻבִים (k'tu-vim): a passive participle, emphasizing that the action was performed on the tablets, by God's agency.
  • with the finger of God: בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים (be-ets-ba Elohim). A powerful anthropomorphic expression signifying direct, unmediated, divine intervention and irresistible power. It means God Himself personally engraved the Law. This dispels any notion of human authorship or mere inspiration; the words were literally of God. In the New Testament, "the finger of God" (Lk 11:20) is paralleled with "the Spirit of God" (Mt 12:28), linking God's legislative act with His powerful executive works in casting out demons, emphasizing His active omnipotence across all spheres.

Exodus 31 18 Bonus section

• The "two" tables: While commonly interpreted as five commandments on each table (Godward and manward duties), some scholarly views suggest two copies of the entire ten, one for God and one for Israel, common in ancient Near Eastern covenant practices. This would imply an even stronger, legally binding witness.
• Mount Sinai's alternative name, Horeb, is used interchangeably in Deuteronomy for the location where the Law was given (e.g., Dt 5:2, 9:8), emphasizing the singularity of this covenant event.
• The tables being placed within the Ark of the Covenant, often called the Ark of the Testimony or Ark of the Covenant, signifies their role as the physical center of Israel's relationship with God, embodying His holy presence and covenant.
• The stark contrast between God finishing His instructions and giving the physical tablets, and the Israelites' concurrent rebellion with the golden calf, underscores the theme of human fallenness and the necessity of divine intervention not just for law-giving, but also for redemption and forgiveness. This tension forms a crucial narrative element of Exodus.

Exodus 31 18 Commentary

Exodus 31:18 serves as a majestic concluding statement to the detailed instructions God delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is a pivot point where God's verbal revelation transitions into a tangible, enduring covenant document. The direct act of God "giving" the tablets to Moses underscores the divine initiative and authority inherent in the Law. The mention of "two tables of testimony" emphasizes their purpose as a perpetual witness to the binding covenant between God and Israel, laying out God's righteous standards and Israel's obligations.

The materiality of "tables of stone" profoundly speaks to the unyielding, unchangeable, and eternal nature of God's Word. Stone implies permanence and contrasts sharply with the impermanence of human decrees or fallible records. However, the most profound truth within this verse lies in the phrase "written with the finger of God." This is not a human scribe transcribing God's words, nor a mere inspiration; it denotes an act of direct, omnipotent divine inscription. It establishes the Law as supremely authoritative, of absolute divine origin, unblemished by human error or interpretation. This direct divine action anticipates similar expressions of God's immediate power in the New Testament (Lk 11:20), indicating God's unified work in both establishing His holy demands and enacting His kingdom.

This verse sets the stage for the dramatic failure of Israel with the golden calf. The breaking of these divinely inscribed tablets (Ex 32:19) symbolized Israel's immediate and grievous breach of the covenant, even before its physical embodiment was fully integrated into their lives. This highlights humanity's inherent inability to fully obey a perfect, divinely authored law, thereby pointing to the future need for a new covenant where God's law would be written not on stone but on the hearts of His people (Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10). The giving of the tablets, therefore, stands as both a foundational act of divine legislation and a prophetic prelude to the need for divine grace.