Exodus 19:9

The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks to Moses at Mount Sinai immediately after the people verbally commit to obeying His commands. This declaration occurs just before the formal consecration of the nation and the descent of the visible cloud.

The words — The term הִנֵּה (hi.Neh) literally means "here!" or "behold," signaling an imminent divine action. אָנֹכִי ('a.no.Khi) translates as "I," emphasizing Yahweh's personal agency in the upcoming encounter.

The thread — The dense cloud motif reappears in Exodus 19:16 and Exodus 24:15 as the visible manifestation of God's presence on the mountain. Deuteronomy 4:36 recalls this event as the moment God spoke from heaven to discipline Israel.

Why it lands — The text states that God will make His voice audible to the people through Moses so they may consistently trust the prophet. Readers must acknowledge that prophetic authority is established by divine design rather than human appointment.

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

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahweh אֶל־'el-to מֹשֶׁ֗הmo.ShehMoses הִנֵּ֨הhi.Nehhere!אָנֹכִ֜י'a.no.KhiI בָּ֣אba'[am] about to come אֵלֶיךָ֮'e.lei./Khato/ you בְּעַ֣בbe./'Avin/ [the] dark cloud of הֶֽעָנָן֒he./'a.Nanthe/ cloud בַּעֲב֞וּרba./'a.Vurin/order that יִשְׁמַ֤עyish.Ma'<it> may hear הָעָם֙ha./'Amthe/ people בְּדַבְּרִ֣יbe./da.be.R/iwhen/ speak/ I עִמָּ֔ךְ'i.Ma/khwith/ you וְגַם־ve./gam-and/ alsoבְּךָ֖be./Khain <the>/ youיַאֲמִ֣ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuthey will trust לְעוֹלָ֑םle./'o.Lamfor/ ever וַיַּגֵּ֥דva/i.ya.Gedand/ he told מֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehMoses אֶת־'et-<obj.>דִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.Rei[the] words of הָעָ֖םha./'Amthe/ people אֶל־'el-to יְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James Version

And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:36 He let you hear His voice from heaven to discipline you, and on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the fire.
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 24:15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it,
Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.
Exodus 20:21 And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Deuteronomy 4:11 You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.
Psalms 97:2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.
Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
1 Kings 8:12 Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
2 Chronicles 6:1 Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

People named

Moses