Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” New Living Translation “But LORD,” Moses protested, “the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’” English Standard Version And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” Berean Standard Bible But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” Berean Literal Bible And Moses said to YHWH, “The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, for You yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.’” King James Bible And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. New King James Version But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ” New American Standard Bible And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” NASB 1995 Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.’” NASB 1977 And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for Thou didst warn us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.’” Legacy Standard Bible And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain, and set it apart as holy.’” Amplified Bible Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, because You warned us, saying, ‘Set barriers around the mountain and consecrate it.’” Berean Annotated Bible But Moses (drawn out) said to the LORD {YHWH}, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai (thorny), for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy. Christian Standard Bible Moses responded to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since you warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consecrate it.” Holman Christian Standard Bible But Moses responded to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since You warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy.” American Standard Version And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. Contemporary English Version Moses replied, "The people cannot come up the mountain. You warned us to stay away because it is holy." English Revised Version And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. GOD'S WORD® Translation Moses said to the LORD, "The people can't come up Mount Sinai, because you warned us yourself to mark off a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy." Good News Translation Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up, because you commanded us to consider the mountain sacred and to mark a boundary around it." International Standard Version Moses told the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai because you warned us: 'Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.'" NET Bible Moses said to the LORD, "The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, because you solemnly warned us, 'Set boundaries for the mountain and set it apart.'" New Heart English Bible Moses said to God, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'" Webster's Bible Translation And Moses said to the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” World English Bible Moses said to Yahweh, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Moses says to YHWH, “The people [are] unable to come up to Mount Sinai, for You have protested to us, saying, Make a border [for] the mountain, then you have sanctified it.” Berean Literal Bible And Moses said to YHWH, “The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, for You yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.’” Young's Literal Translation And Moses saith unto Jehovah, 'The people is unable to come up unto mount Sinai, for Thou -- Thou hast protested to us, saying, Make a border for the mount, then thou hast sanctified it.' Smith's Literal Translation And Moses will say to Jehovah, The people shall not be able to come up to mount Sinai, for thou didst protest to us, saying, Set bounds to the mountain, and consecrate it. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Moses said to the Lord: The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou did charge, and command, saying: Set limits about the mount, and sanctify it. Catholic Public Domain Version And Moses said to the Lord: “The people are not able to ascend to Mount Sinai. For you testified, and you commanded, saying: ‘Set limits around the mountain, and sanctify it.’ ” New American Bible But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot go up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying: Set limits around the mountain to make it sacred.” New Revised Standard Version Moses said to the LORD, “The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.’” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Moses said to the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst warn us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain and sanctify it. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Moshe said to LORD JEHOVAH, “The people cannot ascend the mountain of Sinai because you testified with us and you said to me, “Set boundaries to the mountain and hallow it.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Moses said unto the LORD: 'The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst charge us, saying: Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Moses said to God, The people will not be able to approach to the mount of Sina, for thou hast solemnly charged us, saying, Set bounds to the mountain and sanctify it. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The LORD Visits Sinai…22Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” 23But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” 24And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”… Cross References But Moses said to the LORD, Exodus 32:11-14 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” … Numbers 14:13-19 But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought this people from among them. / And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. / If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, … Deuteronomy 9:18-20 Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger. / For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well. / The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron. “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, Deuteronomy 5:5 At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said: Exodus 20:18-21 When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. / “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” / “Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.” … Hebrews 12:18-19 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 You solemnly warned us, Deuteronomy 4:23-24 Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you. / For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Hebrews 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? ‘Put a boundary around the mountain Hebrews 12:20-21 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” / The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” Exodus 34:3 No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain—not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.” Numbers 18:3-5 And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. / They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you. / And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again. and set it apart as holy.’” Exodus 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Joshua 5:15 The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy. Deuteronomy 4:11-12 You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. / And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice. Exodus 24:1-2 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance. / Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.” Treasury of Scripture And Moses said to the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for you charged us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. set bounds Exodus 19:12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: Joshua 3:4,5 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore… Jump to Previous Apart Bounds Charge Consecrate Holy Limits Making Marking Moses Mount Mountain Orders Round Sanctify Sinai Testified Thou Thyself Unable WarnedJump to Next Apart Bounds Charge Consecrate Holy Limits Making Marking Moses Mount Mountain Orders Round Sanctify Sinai Testified Thou Thyself Unable WarnedExodus 19 1. The people arrive at Sinai3. 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 But Moses said to the LORD Moses, as the mediator between God and the Israelites, often communicated directly with the LORD. This reflects his unique role as a prophet and leader. His direct dialogue with God emphasizes the intimate relationship he had with the Divine, which is a recurring theme throughout the Pentateuch. Moses' role as a mediator foreshadows the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ, who intercedes on behalf of humanity. The people cannot come up Mount Sinai for You solemnly warned us ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and to mediate His covenant with them. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The God of Israel, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and is establishing His covenant with them at Mount Sinai. 3. Mount Sinai The mountain where God gave the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses. It is a place of divine revelation and holiness. 4. The Israelites The people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive God's law. 5. The Boundary A physical and spiritual demarcation set by God around Mount Sinai to prevent the people from approaching His holy presence unprepared. Teaching Points Reverence for God's HolinessGod's holiness requires boundaries. Just as the Israelites were instructed to respect the boundary around Mount Sinai, we must approach God with reverence and respect for His holiness. Obedience to God's Commands Moses' response to God shows his obedience and understanding of God's instructions. We are called to obey God's commands, recognizing that they are given for our protection and sanctification. The Role of Mediators Moses acted as a mediator between God and the Israelites. This foreshadows the ultimate mediation of Jesus Christ, who bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. Consecration and Preparation The act of consecrating the mountain and setting boundaries signifies the need for spiritual preparation when approaching God. We must prepare our hearts and lives to meet with God. The Fear of the Lord The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Understanding the seriousness of God's commands and the consequences of disobedience leads to a healthy fear and respect for God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Exodus 19:23?2. How does Exodus 19:23 emphasize the importance of obeying God's boundaries today? 3. What role does Moses play in communicating God's commands in Exodus 19:23? 4. How does Exodus 19:23 connect to God's holiness throughout Scripture? 5. Why is it crucial to respect God's instructions as shown in Exodus 19:23? 6. How can we apply the principle of reverence from Exodus 19:23 in daily life? 7. Why did God set boundaries around Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:23? 8. How does Exodus 19:23 reflect God's holiness and separateness? 9. What is the significance of Moses' role in Exodus 19:23? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 19? 11. Deuteronomy 5:2-3 says the covenant was made with the present generation, yet other passages imply it was made with their ancestors; how do we reconcile this? 12. Exodus 19:20-21: How can we trust the account of God and Moses on the mountain when only Moses is said to have witnessed this encounter directly? 13. (Exodus 34:1) Why does this second set of commandments differ from those in Exodus 20, and which version should be considered authoritative? 14. Exodus 19:16-19: How can the thunder, lightning, thick cloud, and loud trumpet blast be scientifically or historically verified if there is no external record of such phenomena? What Does Exodus 19:23 Mean But Moses said to the LORD• “But Moses said to the LORD” (Exodus 19:23a) reveals a direct, respectful dialogue. Moses does not oppose God; he reports obedience already in motion, reflecting Numbers 12:7–8 where God calls Moses faithful. • Moses serves as mediator (Exodus 19:3–6; 1 Timothy 2:5). His immediate response underscores how leadership must echo God’s commands, not replace or soften them (Deuteronomy 4:2). The people cannot come up Mount Sinai • Moses states a fixed reality: “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai” (v. 23b). This is a practical outcome of prior instructions given in Exodus 19:12–13. • The mountain marks the meeting point of divine holiness and human limitation, foreshadowing Hebrews 12:18–21, where Israel trembles at Sinai. • Physical distance teaches spiritual truth: sinners need a mediator and a sacrifice to approach God (Leviticus 16:2; Hebrews 10:19–22). for You solemnly warned us • “For You solemnly warned us” (v. 23c) shows that God Himself established and emphasized the restriction, highlighting His authority (Psalm 33:9). • The repetition of the warning (Exodus 19:12, 21) underscores that holiness is not negotiable (1 Peter 1:15–16). • God’s earnest warning protects life; ignoring it brings death (Numbers 18:22). Put a boundary around the mountain • “Put a boundary around the mountain” (v. 23d) speaks of a clear, visible line. Boundaries illustrate separation between holy and common (Leviticus 10:10). • Such limits protect both God’s honor and human life. Crossing them invites judgment, as seen later in 2 Samuel 6:6–7 with Uzzah. • Obedience to boundaries brings blessing (Exodus 24:7–9); transgression leads to exclusion (Numbers 16:35). and set it apart as holy • “And set it apart as holy” (v. 23e) consecrates the mountain itself, illustrating that place and time become sacred by God’s presence (Genesis 28:16–17). • Separation points to sanctification: God draws a people to be holy as He is holy (Exodus 19:5–6; 1 Peter 2:9). • Ultimately, Christ fulfills holiness requirements, tearing down barriers for believers (Ephesians 2:13–18), yet God’s unchanging holiness still calls for reverence (Hebrews 12:28–29). summary Moses reminds God that the people cannot ascend Sinai because God firmly commanded a boundary and consecrated the mountain. Each phrase stresses the necessity of respecting divine holiness, the protective purpose of God-given limits, and the mediator’s role. The scene foreshadows the greater mediation of Christ, who satisfies holiness while inviting believers to draw near with reverence and gratitude. (23) The people cannot come up.--Moses probably means that they cannot do so unwittingly; heDoes not contemplate the case of an intentional trespass. But it was this which God knew to be contemplated, and was desirous of preventing. Verse 23. - The people cannot come up. Moses can only have meant, that the people could not approach the mount unwittingly, since the fence commanded (ver. 12) was made. But to scale the fence, or break through it, was of course possible. (See ver 13.)Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙ (mō·šeh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the LORD, יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel “The people הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock cannot לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no come up לַעֲלֹ֖ת (la·‘ă·lōṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively Mount הַ֣ר (har) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country Sinai, סִינָ֑י (sî·nāy) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5514: Sinai -- the mountain where the law was given for כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction You אַתָּ֞ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you solemnly warned הַעֵדֹ֤תָה (ha·‘ê·ḏō·ṯāh) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5749: To duplicate, repeat, to protest, testify, to encompass, restore us, בָּ֙נוּ֙ (bā·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's Hebrew ‘Put a boundary around הַגְבֵּ֥ל (haḡ·bêl) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1379: To twist as a, rope, to bound the mountain הָהָ֖ר (hā·hār) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country and set it apart as holy.’” וְקִדַּשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (wə·qid·daš·tōw) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated Links Exodus 19:23 NIVExodus 19:23 NLT Exodus 19:23 ESV Exodus 19:23 NASB Exodus 19:23 KJV Exodus 19:23 BibleApps.com Exodus 19:23 Biblia Paralela Exodus 19:23 Chinese Bible Exodus 19:23 French Bible Exodus 19:23 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 19:23 Moses said to Yahweh The people can't (Exo. 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