Bible Strands
Exodus 19:11
and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God commands Moses to tell the Israelites to complete their consecration and washing by the third day. This instruction follows the immediate directives to sanctify the people and establish a lethal boundary around Mount Sinai.
The words — The Hebrew נְכֹנִים (ne.kho.Nim) literally means "prepared" or "ready," directly modifying the people's state. The verb יֵרֵד (ye.Red) translates as "he will come down," specifying God's physical descent rather than a metaphorical appearance.
The thread — The specified timeframe materializes in Exodus 19:16, where the third day brings thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud over the mountain. The motif of God descending from Sinai reappears in Exodus 34:5 and Deuteronomy 33:2.
Why it lands — The text requires the community to complete tangible preparation before any divine encounter occurs. It establishes that approaching the stated presence demands immediate obedience to the given timeline and boundaries.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Cross-references
- Exodus 19:16 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.
- Exodus 34:5 And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 33:2 He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.
- John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
- Exodus 3:8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- Exodus 19:18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
- Exodus 19:20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,
- Numbers 11:17 And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.
- Psalms 18:9 He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.
- Psalms 144:5 Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke.