Bible Strands
Exodus 19:13
No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God issues this command to Moses to relay to the Israelites at Mount Sinai immediately after establishing a sacred boundary around the peak.
The words — The Hebrew תִגַּ֨ע (ti.Ga') translates literally as "it will touch," while יִסָּקֵל֙ (yi.sa.Kel) means "he will be stoned," directly linking physical contact with the mountain to capital punishment.
The thread — The lethal consequence for animals touching the mountain is quoted in Hebrews 12:20, and the ram’s horn that permits approach corresponds to the trumpet blast described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Why it lands — The text requires strict adherence to divine boundaries, instructing the reader to wait for God’s signal before approaching His presence rather than acting on human initiative.
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
There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
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.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
- Hebrews 12:20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
- Exodus 19:19 And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
- Exodus 21:28 If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must surely be stoned, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the ox shall not be held responsible.
- Leviticus 20:15 If a man lies carnally with an animal, he must be put to death. And you are also to kill the animal.
- 1 Corinthians 15:52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.