King James Version

What Does Exodus 19:24 Mean?

Exodus 19:24 in the King James Version says “And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the prie... — study this verse from Exodus chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

Exodus 19:24 · KJV


Context

22

And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

23

And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

24

And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

25

So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

God insists on Moses' descent and return with Aaron—this isn't busywork but establishing Aaron's role as co-mediator and future high priest. Moses must 'come up' (וְעָלִיתָ, ve'alita) with Aaron—the partnership begins here. The warning is reiterated with threatening verb 'break forth' (יִפְרֹץ, yifrotz)—God may 'burst out' against presumption. Three groups are distinguished: Moses (unique access), Aaron (priestly access), priests/people (restricted access). The gradations of holiness (most holy place, holy place, court, camp) that will structure the tabernacle are here spatially depicted on the mountain. Access corresponds to consecration; intimacy requires purity.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Aaron's inclusion here foreshadows his appointment as high priest (Exodus 28). The command structure establishes the mediatorial hierarchy that will govern Israelite worship—Moses supreme, Aaron priestly, people separated by degrees of holiness.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does God require Aaron to accompany Moses this time when Moses previously ascended alone?
  2. How do the different levels of access (Moses, Aaron, priests, people) prefigure the tabernacle's structure?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 19

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלָ֤יו2 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֖ה3 of 19

And the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לֶךְ4 of 19
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

רֵ֔ד5 of 19

get thee down

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

לַֽעֲלֹ֥ת6 of 19

and thou shalt come up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אַתָּ֖ה7 of 19
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

וְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן8 of 19

thou and Aaron

H175

aharon, the brother of moses

עִמָּ֑ךְ9 of 19
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֣ים10 of 19

with thee but let not the priests

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

וְהָעָ֗ם11 of 19

and the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

אַל12 of 19
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּ13 of 19

break through

H2040

to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy

לַֽעֲלֹ֥ת14 of 19

and thou shalt come up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אֶל15 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֖ה16 of 19

And the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

פֶּן17 of 19
H6435

properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest

יִפְרָץ18 of 19

lest he break forth

H6555

to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative)

בָּֽם׃19 of 19
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Exodus 19:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Exodus 19:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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