Exodus 24:9
New International Version
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up

New Living Translation
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain.

English Standard Version
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up,

Berean Standard Bible
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

King James Bible
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

New King James Version
Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

New American Standard Bible
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

NASB 1995
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

NASB 1977
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

Amplified Bible
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up [the mountainside],

Christian Standard Bible
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s elders,

American Standard Version
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

Contemporary English Version
Moses and Aaron, together with Nadab and Abihu and the 70 leaders, went up the mountain

English Revised Version
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of Israel's leaders.

Good News Translation
Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the leaders of Israel went up the mountain

International Standard Version
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel went up

Majority Standard Bible
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

NET Bible
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up,

New Heart English Bible
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

World English Bible
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Moses goes up, Aaron also, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy from [the] elderly of Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses goeth up, Aaron also, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will go up, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy from the old men of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients of Israel went up:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel ascended.

New American Bible
Moses then went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel,

New Revised Standard Version
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe and Ahron and Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the Elders of Israel came up:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses went up, and Aaron, and Nadab and Abiud, and seventy of the elders of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Covenant Sealed
8So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.…

Cross References
Exodus 33:11
Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

Exodus 33:20-23
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” / The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, / and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. ...

Numbers 12:6-8
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. / But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. / I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

Deuteronomy 5:4
The LORD spoke with you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

Deuteronomy 34:10
Since that time, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face—

Isaiah 6:1-5
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. / Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” ...

Ezekiel 1:26-28
Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man. / From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him. / The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Genesis 32:30
So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

1 Kings 19:11-13
Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. / After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. / When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Psalm 63:2
So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory.

John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

John 14:9
Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Matthew 17:1-3
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. / There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. / Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.


Treasury of Scripture

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

Exodus 24:1
And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

Jump to Previous
Aaron Abihu Abi'hu Chiefs Elders Israel Moses Nadab Seventy
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Aaron Abihu Abi'hu Chiefs Elders Israel Moses Nadab Seventy
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.














Then Moses went up
This phrase marks a significant moment in the narrative of Exodus, as Moses ascends Mount Sinai. The Hebrew root for "went up" is "עלה" (alah), which often signifies an ascent to a place of divine encounter. This ascent is not merely physical but also spiritual, symbolizing Moses' approach to the presence of God. Historically, Mount Sinai is considered a sacred place where God reveals His covenant to Israel, and Moses' ascent is a precursor to receiving divine instruction.

with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu
These names are significant as they represent the leadership of Israel. Aaron, Moses' brother, is the high priest, while Nadab and Abihu are his sons, who also serve as priests. Their inclusion in this ascent indicates the importance of priestly mediation between God and His people. The presence of these leaders underscores the communal aspect of the covenant, as they represent the entire nation of Israel in this divine encounter.

and seventy of the elders of Israel
The number seventy is symbolic in biblical literature, often representing completeness or the fullness of the community. The elders are leaders and representatives of the tribes of Israel, signifying that this encounter with God is not just for Moses and the priests but for the entire nation. This gathering of leaders highlights the communal nature of the covenant and the shared responsibility of upholding it.

and they saw the God of Israel
This phrase is profound, as it suggests a theophany, a visible manifestation of God. The Hebrew word for "saw" is "ראה" (ra'ah), which implies a deep, spiritual perception rather than a mere physical sight. In the conservative Christian perspective, this encounter is understood as a unique revelation of God's glory, emphasizing His holiness and the privilege of being in His presence. It is a moment of divine grace, where God allows His chosen leaders to experience His majesty.

(9) Then went up.--According to the ordinary ideas of the time, the ratification of the covenant was now complete, and nothing more was needed. It pleased God, however, to terminate the whole transaction by a closing scene of extraordinary grandeur, beauty, and spiritual significance. A sacrifice implied a sacrificial meal (Exodus 18:12). Moses understood that God, by summoning Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders into the mount (Exodus 24:1), had intended the sacrificial meal to be held there; and accordingly, as soon as he had sprinkled the people, ascended Sinai with the persons summoned, and had the feast prepared. A sacrificial meal was always regarded as a religious act--an act done "before God" (Exodus 18:12), involving communion with Him. God willed now to signalise this sacrificial feast above all others by making His presence not only felt but seen. As Moses, Aaron with his two sons, and the elders were engaged in the feast (Exodus 24:11), a vision of marvellous splendour broke upon them. "They saw the God of Israel" (Exodus 24:10). God showed Himself to them--not, as before, amid thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud, and fire, and smoke, and earthquake (Exodus 19:16; Exodus 19:18), but in His loveliness (Song of Solomon 5:16) and His beauty, standing on pellucid sapphire, blue as the blue of heaven. They "saw God," and were neither hurt nor even terrified; they could, while seeing Him, still eat and drink--they felt themselves like guests at His board, as if He were banqueting with them. So was impressed upon them the mild and sweet relation into which they were brought towards God by covenant--a covenant made, and not yet infringed. The gentle, lovely, attractive side of God's character was shewn to them, instead of the awful and alarming one; and they were taught to look forward to a final state of bliss, in which God's covenanted servants would dwell in His presence continually. . . . Verses 9-11. - THE SACRIFICIAL FEAST AND THE VISION OF GOD. After the covenant had been ratified by the unanimous voice of the people, Moses proceeded to carry out the injunctions with respect to Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the elders, which he had received while still in the mount (see the comment on vers. 1, 2). Taking them with him, he ascended Sinai once more to a certain height, but clearly not to the summit, which he alone was privileged to visit (vers. 2 and 12). The object of the ascent was twofold.

1. A sacrificial meal always followed upon a sacrifice; and the elders might naturally desire to partake of it as near the Divine presence as should be permitted them. This was their purpose in ascending.

2. God desired to impress them with a sense of his awful majesty and beauty, and was prepared for this end to manifest himself to them in some strange and wonderful way as they were engaged in the solemn meal (ver. 11). This was his purpose in inviting their presence. The manifestation is described in ver. 10. It was a "vision of God," but of what exact nature it is impossible to say. Having recorded it, the author parenthetically notes that the Divine vision did not destroy any of those who beheld it, or cause them any injury, as might have been expected. Verse 9. - Then went up. Compare ver. 1. The mountain was to be partially ascended, but not to any great height. Nadab, Abihu, and the elders were to "worship God afar off."

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

went up
וַיַּ֥עַל (way·ya·‘al)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

with Aaron,
וְאַהֲרֹ֑ן (wə·’a·hă·rōn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

Nadab
נָדָב֙ (nā·ḏāḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5070: Nadab -- an Israelite name

and Abihu,
וַאֲבִיה֔וּא (wa·’ă·ḇî·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 30: Abihu -- 'he is father', a son of Aaron

and seventy
וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים (wə·šiḇ·‘îm)
Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural
Strong's 7657: Seventy (a cardinal number)

of the elders
מִזִּקְנֵ֥י (miz·ziq·nê)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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