Exodus 19:21

And the Lord said to Moses, Go down and give the people orders to keep back, for fear that a great number of them, forcing their way through to see the Lord, may come to destruction.

Bible in Basic English

In The King James Version

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

In Context

20Then the Lord came down on to Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and the Lord sent for Moses to come up to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

22And let the priests who come near to the Lord make themselves holy, for fear that the Lord may come on them suddenly.

Read all of Exodus 19

Cross References

Exodus 3:5And he said, Do not come near: take off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you are is holy.

Exodus 33:20But it is not possible for you to see my face, for no man may see me and still go on living.

Numbers 4:18Do not let the family of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites;

Numbers 4:20But they themselves are not to go in to see the holy place, even for a minute, for fear of death.

Ecclesiastes 5:1\5:2\Be not unwise with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to say anything before God, because God is in heaven and you are on the earth--so let not the number of your words be great.

Matthew Henry on Exodus 19:17-25

The Divine Presence on Mount Sinai. ( b. c. 1491.) 16 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. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Exodus 19:21