Bible Strands
Exodus 34:32
And after this all the Israelites came near, and Moses commanded them to do everything that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites immediately after his mountain encounter and his initial dialogue with Aaron and the tribal leaders. He issues the directive while the congregation stands before him, just before he prepares to veil his face.
The words — The Hebrew verb נִגְּשׁוּ (ni.ge.Shu) literally means "they drew near," marking the people's physical approach to Moses. This action is immediately followed by וַ/יְצַוֵּ֕ם (va/y.tza.Ve/m), "and he commanded them," which introduces the binding order.
The thread — The movement of drawing near to receive law parallels Exodus 24:3, where the people gather to hear and affirm Moses' words. The mandate to keep every divine instruction recurs in Numbers 15:40 as a structural reminder to obey all commandments given.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to see that obedience is triggered by divine revelation and requires deliberate approach to the mediator. It demands immediate compliance with every directive received on the mountain before the covenant transaction concludes.
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 afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
Cross-references
- Exodus 21:1 “These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:
- 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.”
- Numbers 15:40 Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy to your God.
- 1 Kings 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
- Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
- 1 Corinthians 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,