Exodus 24:7

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses reads the Book of the Covenant aloud to the assembled Israelites immediately after placing half the sacrificial blood on the altar. The people respond directly to his reading with a collective verbal commitment.

The words — The phrase סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית (Sefer ha-Brit) literally means "book of the covenant," referring to the written record of the laws just delivered. The verb וַיִּקְרָא (va-yikra) specifies that he read it aloud directly in the ears of the people.

The thread — This pattern of public reading and corporate response appears in Exodus 24:3 when the people first pledge compliance and reappears in Deuteronomy 31:11 at the festival assembly. The New Testament cites this inauguration sequence in Hebrews 9:18 to explain how the first covenant was established.

Why it lands — The text requires a direct, spoken assent to the stated commands before the blood ritual proceeds. It places the burden of explicit obedience on the listeners, framing covenant relationship as a response to revealed words rather than a unilateral decree.

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

וַיִּקַּח֙va/i.yi.Kachand/ he took סֵ֣פֶרSe.fer[the] book of הַבְּרִ֔יתha./be.Ritthe/ covenant וַיִּקְרָ֖אva/i.yik.Ra'and/ he read [it] aloud בְּאָזְנֵ֣יbe./'a.ze.Neiin/ [the] ears of הָעָ֑םha./'Amthe/ people וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּva/i.Yo.me.Ruand/ they said כֹּ֛לkolall אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that דִּבֶּ֥רdi.Berhe has spoken יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh נַעֲשֶׂ֥הna.'a.Sehwe will do וְנִשְׁמָֽע׃ve./nish.Ma'and/ we may obey

King James Version

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 31:11 when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.
Exodus 24:3 When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”
Hebrews 9:18 That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
Jeremiah 7:23 but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.
Acts 13:15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
Colossians 4:16 After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.