Exodus 19:16
New International Version
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.

New Living Translation
On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.

English Standard Version
On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

Berean Standard Bible
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

King James Bible
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

New King James Version
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

New American Standard Bible
So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

NASB 1995
So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

NASB 1977
So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Legacy Standard Bible
So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Amplified Bible
So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and flashes of lightning, and a thick cloud was on the mountain, and a very loud blast was sounded on a ram’s horn, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Christian Standard Bible
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram’s horn, so that all the people in the camp shuddered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.

Contemporary English Version
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain, a loud trumpet blast was heard, and everyone in camp trembled with fear.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
On the morning of the second day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram's horn [was heard]. All the people in the camp shook with fear.

Good News Translation
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud appeared on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast was heard. All the people in the camp trembled with fear.

International Standard Version
When morning came on the third day, there was thunder and lightning, with a heavy cloud over the mountain, and the very loud sound of a ram's horn. All the people in the camp trembled.

Majority Standard Bible
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

NET Bible
On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled.

New Heart English Bible
It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled.

World English Bible
On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, on the third day, while it is morning, that there are voices, and lightnings, and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very strong horn; and all the people who [are] in the camp tremble.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, on the third day, while it is morning, that there are voices, and lightnings, and a heavy cloud, on the mount, and the sound of a trumpet very strong; and all the people who are in the camp do tremble.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it shall be in the third day, it being in the morning, and there shall be voices, and lightnings, and a heavy cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceedingly strong; and all the people in the camp will tremble.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And now the third day was come, and the morning appeared: and behold thunders began to be heard, and lightning to flash, and a very thick cloud to cover the mount, and the noise of the trumpet sounded exceeding loud, and the people that was in the camp, feared.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And now, the third day arrived and the morning dawned. And behold, thunders began to be heard, and also lightning flashed, and a very dense cloud covered the mountain, and the noise of the trumpet resounded vehemently. And the people who were in the camp were fearful.

New American Bible
On the morning of the third day there were peals of thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast of the shofar, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

New Revised Standard Version
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud appeared upon the mountain and the sound of the trumpet exceedingly loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it was in the third day, when it was dawn, there were voices and lightnings and a mighty cloud was on the mountain and a sound of a trumpet was very powerful and all the people that were in the camp shook.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass on the third day, as the morning drew nigh, there were voices and lightnings and a dark cloud on mount Sina: the voice of the trumpet sounded loud, and all the people in the camp trembled.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Visits Sinai
16On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.…

Cross References
Hebrews 12:18-21
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; / to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. / For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” ...

Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.

Matthew 24:30-31
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. / And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.

Acts 2:2-3
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. / They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Revelation 11:19
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

Psalm 77:18
Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

Psalm 97:2-5
Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. / Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side. / His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles. ...

Psalm 104:32
He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder.

2 Samuel 22:14-15
The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. / He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.

Isaiah 29:6
you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.

Isaiah 30:30
And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones.

Ezekiel 1:4
I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,

Ezekiel 10:5
The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.

Joel 2:1
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

thunders

Exodus 9:23,28,29
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt…

Exodus 20:18
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

1 Samuel 12:17,18
Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king…

thick

Exodus 19:9
And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

Exodus 40:34
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

2 Chronicles 5:14
So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

voice

Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

all the people

Jeremiah 5:22
Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

Hebrews 12:21
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

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Exodus 19
1. The people arrive at Sinai
3. God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount
8. The people are prepared against the third day, for the giving of the law
12. The mountain must not be touched
16. The fearful presence of God upon the mount














On the third day
The phrase "On the third day" signifies a period of preparation and anticipation. Biblically, the third day often marks a moment of divine intervention or revelation, as seen in the resurrection of Christ. In Hebrew culture, the number three symbolizes completeness and divine perfection, indicating that the events about to unfold are of utmost significance.

when morning came
"Morning" in the Hebrew context often represents new beginnings and divine favor. The dawning of a new day is symbolic of God’s mercies and the renewal of His covenant with His people. This particular morning heralds a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as they prepare to encounter God at Mount Sinai.

there was thunder and lightning
The "thunder and lightning" are manifestations of God's power and majesty. In Hebrew, the word for thunder can also mean "voice," suggesting that the natural phenomena are expressions of God's presence. These elements serve to instill awe and reverence, reminding the Israelites of God's sovereignty and the seriousness of the covenant they are about to enter.

with a thick cloud on the mountain
The "thick cloud" symbolizes the mystery and holiness of God. In the ancient Near Eastern context, clouds often represented divine presence. The cloud on Mount Sinai serves as a veil, concealing the full glory of God from the people, yet indicating His nearness. It underscores the idea that while God is accessible, He is also transcendent and not fully comprehensible.

and a very loud trumpet blast
The "very loud trumpet blast" is a call to attention and assembly. In Hebrew tradition, trumpets were used to signal important events, such as the arrival of a king or the commencement of battle. Here, the trumpet blast signifies the divine summons to the Israelites, calling them to witness the establishment of the covenant and to recognize God as their sovereign King.

so that all the people in the camp trembled
The reaction of the people, "trembled," reflects the appropriate response to the divine presence. The Hebrew word for tremble can also mean to fear or to stand in awe. This trembling is not merely physical but spiritual, indicating a deep recognition of God's holiness and the gravity of the moment. It serves as a reminder of the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, and the proper posture before a holy God.

(16-20) Thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud.--Compare with this description that of Deut. (Deuteronomy 4:11-12), which is fuller in some respects:--"Ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the Lord spake unto you out of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice." The phenomena accumulated to impress the people seem to have been loud thunder, fierce flashes of lightning, a fire that streamed up from the mountain to the middle of the sky, dense volumes of smoke producing an awful and weird darkness, a trembling of the mountain as by a continuous earthquake, a sound like the blare of a trumpet loud and prolonged, and then finally a clear penetrating voice. So awful a manifestation has never been made at any other place or time, nor will be until the consummation of all things. To regard it as a mere "storm of thunder and lightning," or as "an earthquake with volcanic eruptions," is to miss altogether the meaning of the author, and to empty his narrative of all its natural significance.

The voice of the trumpet.--Heb., a voice of a trumpet. The trumpet's blare is the signal of a herald calling attention to a proclamation about to be made. At the last day the coming of Christ is to be announced by "the trump of God" (1Thessalonians 4:16). In the Apocalypse angels are often represented as sounding with trumpets (Revelation 8:7-8; Revelation 8:10; Revelation 8:12; Revelation 9:1; Revelation 9:14, &c.) when some great event is about to occur. . . .

Verses 16-20. - THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD UPON SINAI. All was ready. The fence had been made (ver. 23); the people had purified themselves - at least so far as externals went. The third day was come - there was a breathless hush of expectation. Then suddenly, in the morning, the presence manifested itself. "There were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud" (ver. 16); "and Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace and the whole mount quaked greatly" (ver. 18) Or, as the scene is elsewhere (Deuteronomy 4:11, 12) described by Moses - "Ye came near and stood under the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice." The phenomena were not a mere "storm of thunder and lightning, whereof Moses took advantage to persuade the people that they had heard God's voice" - not "an earthquake with volcanic eruptions" - not even these two combined - but a real theophany, in which amid the phenomena of storm and tempest, and fire and smoke, and thick darkness, and hearings of the ground as by an earthquake shock, first the loud blast of a trumpet sounded long commanding attention, and then a clear penetrating voice, like that of a man, made itself heard in distinctly articulated words, audible to the whole multitude, and recognised by them as superhuman - as "the voice of God" (Deuteronomy 4:33). It is in vain to seek to minimise, and to rationalise the scene, and tone it down into something not supernatural. The only honest course is either to accept it as a plain record of plain (albeit miraculous) facts, or to reject it altogether as the fiction of a romancer. Verse 16. - There were thunders. Literally, "voices," as in Exodus 9:23; but there can be no doubt that "thunder" is meant. A thick cloud. Compare above, ver. 9, and the comment ad loc. The voice of the trumpet. Literally, "a trumpet's voice." The word used for "trumpet" is not the same as in ver. 13; but the variation does not seem to have any importance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On the third
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י (haš·šə·lî·šî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

day,
בַיּ֨וֹם (ḇay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

when morning
הַבֹּ֗קֶר (hab·bō·qer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

came,
וַיְהִי֩ (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

there was
בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת (bih·yōṯ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

thunder
קֹלֹ֨ת (qō·lōṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

and lightning.
וּבְרָקִ֜ים (ū·ḇə·rā·qîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1300: Lightning, a gleam, a flashing sword

A thick
כָּבֵד֙ (kā·ḇêḏ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3515: Heavy

cloud
וְעָנָ֤ן (wə·‘ā·nān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud

was upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the mountain,
הָהָ֔ר (hā·hār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

with a very loud
חָזָ֣ק (ḥā·zāq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2389: Strong, stout, mighty

trumpet
שֹׁפָ֖ר (šō·p̄ār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn

blast,
וְקֹ֥ל (wə·qōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

so that all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

in the camp
בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (bam·ma·ḥă·neh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

trembled.
וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד (way·ye·ḥĕ·raḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2729: To shudder with terror, to fear, to hasten


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OT Law: Exodus 19:16 It happened on the third day when (Exo. Ex)
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