Exodus 24:12
New International Version
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

New Living Translation
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.”

English Standard Version
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

New King James Version
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”

New American Standard Bible
Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the Law and the commandments which I have written for their instruction.”

NASB 1995
Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”

NASB 1977
Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”

Amplified Bible
Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments which I have written for their instruction.”

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while. I will give you the two flat stones on which I have written the laws that my people must obey."

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and the commandments I have written for the people's instruction."

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up the mountain to me, and while you are here, I will give you two stone tablets which contain all the laws that I have written for the instruction of the people."

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told Moses, "Go up to me on the mountain and stay there. I'll give you stone tablets with the instruction and law that I've written to teach the people."

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, ?Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.?

NET Bible
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me to the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments that I have written, so that you may teach them."

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Moses, Come up to me on the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayst teach them.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to Moses, “Come up to Me [on] the mountain and be there, and I give to you the tablets of stone, and the Law, and the command, which I have written to direct them.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Come up unto Me to the mount, and be there, and I give to thee the tables of stone, and the law, and the command, which I have written to direct them.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to Moses, Come up to me to the mountain, and be there: and I will give to thee tablets of stone, and the law and the commands which I wrote, to teach them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to Moses: Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and the law, and the commandments which I have written: that thou mayst teach them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the Lord said to Moses: “Ascend to me on the mountain, and be there. And I will give to you tablets of stone, and the law and the commandments that I have written. So may you teach them.”

New American Bible
The LORD said to Moses: Come up to me on the mountain and, while you are there, I will give you the stone tablets on which I have written the commandments intended for their instruction.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Moses, Come up to me to the mountain, and present yourself there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the laws and commandments which I have written; that you may teach them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe, “Come up to me to the mountain and be there and I shall give to you tablets of stone and the laws and the commandments that I have written to teach them.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Come up to Me into the mount and be there; and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to Moses, Come up to me into the mountain, and be there; and I will give thee the tables of stone, the law and the commandments, which I have written to give them laws.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses on the Mountain
12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” 13So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 9:9-11
When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water. / Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, inscribed by the finger of God with the exact words that the LORD spoke to you out of the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly. / And at the end of forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.

Exodus 31:18
When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Deuteronomy 5:22
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

Hebrews 8:5
The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

Deuteronomy 10:1-5
At that time the LORD said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. / And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to place them in the ark.” / So I made an ark of acacia wood, chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. ...

Exodus 32:15-16
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. / The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

Hebrews 9:19-20
For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, / saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

2 Corinthians 3:7-8
Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

Exodus 34:1-4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. / Be ready in the morning, and come up on Mount Sinai to present yourself before Me on the mountaintop. / 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.” ...

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.” ...

Nehemiah 9:13-14
You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. / You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses.

Galatians 3:19
Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

Acts 7:38
He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that you may teach them.

come up

Exodus 24:2,14,18
And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him…

tables

Exodus 31:18
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 32:15,16
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written…

Deuteronomy 5:22
These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

that thou

Deuteronomy 4:14
And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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Exodus 24
1. Moses is called up into the mountain
3. The people promise obedience
4. Moses builds an altar, and twelve pillars.
6. He sprinkles the blood of the covenant
9. The glory of God appears
14. Aaron and Hur have the charge of the people
15. Moses goes into the mountain, where he continues forty days and forty nights.














The LORD said to Moses
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication between God and Moses, highlighting Moses' unique role as a mediator between God and the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which conveys not just speaking but also commanding or declaring. This underscores the authority and divine initiative in the communication. Historically, Moses is seen as a prophet and leader chosen by God, and this direct dialogue signifies the importance of the message being conveyed.

Come up to Me on the mountain
The invitation to "come up" signifies a call to ascend not just physically but spiritually. The mountain, likely Mount Sinai, is a place of divine revelation and encounter. In biblical symbolism, mountains often represent places where heaven and earth meet, where God reveals Himself to humanity. The Hebrew word for "come up" is "עָלָה" (alah), which can also mean to rise or ascend, indicating a movement towards God, both in proximity and in spiritual elevation.

and stay there
This phrase implies a period of waiting and dwelling in God's presence. The Hebrew root "הָיָה" (hayah) for "stay" suggests being or existing, indicating that Moses is to remain in a state of readiness and receptivity. This period of staying is crucial for receiving divine instruction, emphasizing the importance of patience and attentiveness in spiritual matters.

so that I may give you
Here, the purpose of Moses' ascent is revealed: to receive something from God. The phrase indicates a divine gift, underscoring the grace and initiative of God in providing guidance and law. The act of giving is central to the covenant relationship between God and His people, highlighting God's desire to equip and instruct His chosen leader.

the tablets of stone
The "tablets of stone" are significant as they represent the permanence and durability of God's law. Stone, in the ancient Near Eastern context, was often used for inscriptions meant to last, symbolizing the enduring nature of God's commandments. Archaeologically, this aligns with practices of inscribing important decrees on stone to ensure their preservation.

with the law and commandments
This phrase refers to the content of the tablets, which includes both the "law" (Torah) and "commandments" (mitzvot). The Hebrew word "תּוֹרָה" (Torah) means instruction or teaching, while "מִצְוָה" (mitzvah) refers to specific commands. Together, they encompass the comprehensive guidance God provides for His people, reflecting His will and covenantal relationship with Israel.

I have written
The act of writing by God Himself emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the law. The Hebrew root "כָּתַב" (katav) for "written" indicates a formal and deliberate act, underscoring the significance and intentionality behind the commandments. This divine authorship assures the Israelites of the reliability and sacredness of the law.

for their instruction
The purpose of the law and commandments is for the instruction of the Israelites. The Hebrew word "יָרָה" (yarah) for "instruction" can also mean to teach or direct, highlighting the role of the law as a guide for living in accordance with God's will. This underscores the practical and moral dimensions of the law, intended to shape the community's life and relationship with God.

THE SECOND ASCENT OF MOSES INTO MOUNT SINAI.

(12-18) The great work still remained to be done. A series of laws had been laid down for the nation and accepted with unanimity (Exodus 24:3; Exodus 24:7). But "quid prosunt leges sine moribus?" It was necessary for the sustentation of the religious life of the people that a sacred polity should be instituted, a form of worship set up, and regulations established with regard to all the externals of religion--holy persons, holy places, rites, ceremonies, vestments, incense, consecration. Moses was directed to ascend into the mount, and hold prolonged communion with God, in order that he might learn the mind of God with respect to all these things. His prolonged stay for "forty days and forty nights" (Exodus 24:18) was necessary to give him a full and complete knowledge of all the details so elaborately set forth in Exodus 25-30, and again in Exodus 35-40, which thenceforth constituted the essentials of the external worship of Israel, whereby the minds and habits of the people were moulded and impressed in a far more efficacious way than could ever have been done by a mere set of abstract propositions, appealing only to the intellect. "Segnius irritant animum demissa per aures, Quam qu? sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus." The Decalogue and the Book of the Covenant had no doubt a considerable share in forming the character of the Hebrew nation; but a larger share must be assigned to the ritual and ceremonial which Moses was now instructed to set up, and which forms the main subject of the remainder of the Book.

(12) Come up to me into the mount, and be there.--After the sacrificial meal, the seventy-four persons engaged in it had descended into the plain of Er-Rahah, and possibly spent some time there, before a second summons came to Moses. This time he was directed to ascend accompanied only by his minister, Joshua (Exodus 24:13), and was warned that his stay was to be a prolonged one in the words, "And be there."

And I will give thee tables of stone . . . --It is remarkable that these are not expressly said, either here or in Exodus 31:18, to have contained the ten commandments. The fact, however, is distinctly stated in Deuteronomy 5:22; and with respect to the second tables, the same is affirmed in Exodus 34:28. The fiction of a double decalogue is thus precluded. . . .

Verses 12-18. - MOSES' ENTRY INTO THE CLOUD, AND FORTY DAYS' COMMUNE WITH GOD. It was necessary now that Moses should receive full directions for the external worship of God, the sanctuary, and the priesthood. Every religion has something tangible and material about it - holy places, holy things, rites, ceremonies, rules, forms, regulations. If man sets himself to devise these things of his own head, he may very easily go wrong, and find his elaborate inventions "an offence" to God. To avoid this - to secure the result that all should be pleasing and acceptable to "the High and Holy One which inhabiteth eternity," it was thought fitting that "patterns" should be shown to Moses of all that was to be made for the worship (Hebrews 8:5), and exact details given him with respect to the material, size, shape, and construction of each. The results are put before us in seven chapters (chs. 25-31.). For the purpose of allowing ample time for the communications which had to be made and of securing that undivided attention which was requisite in order that all should remain fixed in the memory, God summoned his servant to a long and solitary colloquy, on the mountain summit whereon the cloud rested (Exodus 19:18), apart from all his people. Moses, of course, obeyed; but before ascending, arranged with the elders that in his absence Aaron and Hur should have the direction of affairs, and decide all doubtful questions (ver. 14). He then went up the mountain, accompanied for part of the way by Joshua, who is now spoken of as his "minister," or "attendant" (ver. 13). Joshua probably remained with him for six days, while Moses waited for a summons to enter the cloud. On the seventh day the summons came: and Moses, leaving Joshua, entered the cloud, and was hid from the sight of all men. Verse 12. - Come up to me. Moses, apparently, had descended again into the plain, with Aaron and the seventy elders, after the festival was over. (See ver. 14, and compare Exodus 32:1.) He is now commanded to reascend, and be there - i.e., "And continue there" - foreshadowing the length of the stay. Tables of stone, and a law, and commandments, etc. Literally, "Tables of stone, and the law and the commandments which I have written." The three expressions alike refer to the Decalogue, which alone God wrote. That thou mayest teach them. Rather," to teach them." God wrote the commandments on stone, in order to inculcate them with the greater force upon his people.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (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

Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֗ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

“Come up
עֲלֵ֥ה (‘ă·lêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to Me
אֵלַ֛י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

on the mountain
הָהָ֖רָה (hā·hā·rāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

and stay
וֶהְיֵה־ (weh·yêh-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

here,
שָׁ֑ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

so that I may give
וְאֶתְּנָ֨ה (wə·’et·tə·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you
לְךָ֜ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

the tablets
לֻחֹ֣ת (lu·ḥōṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3871: To glisten, a tablet, of stone, wood, metal

of stone,
הָאֶ֗בֶן (hā·’e·ḇen)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 68: A stone

with the law
וְהַתּוֹרָה֙ (wə·hat·tō·w·rāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

and commandments
וְהַמִּצְוָ֔ה (wə·ham·miṣ·wāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4687: Commandment

I have written
כָּתַ֖בְתִּי (kā·ṯaḇ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

for their instruction.”
לְהוֹרֹתָֽם׃ (lə·hō·w·rō·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach


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OT Law: Exodus 24:12 Yahweh said to Moses Come up (Exo. Ex)
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