Bible Strands
Exodus 19:3
Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses ascends to God at the Sinai mountain immediately after Israel camps before the peak. The LORD addresses Moses directly, commanding him to deliver a specific message to the house of Jacob and the sons of Israel.
The words — The verb עָלָה ('a.Lah) literally means “he went up,” marking Moses’ physical ascent to the mountain. The verb יִקְרָא (i.yik.Ra') means “he called,” indicating the LORD’s vocal summons to Moses from the summit.
The thread — This mountain encounter parallels the LORD calling Moses from the bush in Exodus 3:4 and establishes the mediation pattern later cited in Deuteronomy 5:5 and Acts 7:38.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate compliance by framing the upcoming revelation as a direct command to relay God’s words to Israel. It requires the reader to recognize that covenant communication originates from divine initiative and requires a designated messenger.
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 Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Cross-references
- Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
- Deuteronomy 5:5 At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said:
- 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.
- Exodus 20:21 And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
- Exodus 24:15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it,
- Exodus 34:2 Be ready in the morning, and come up on Mount Sinai to present yourself before Me on the mountaintop.