King James Version

What Does Exodus 24:16 Mean?

Exodus 24:16 in the King James Version says “And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto ... — study this verse from Exodus chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

Exodus 24:16 · KJV


Context

14

And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

15

And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

16

And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

17

And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

'Glory of the LORD' (כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, kevod YHWH) is God's weighty presence, His manifest excellence. The glory 'abode' (וַיִּשְׁכֹּן, vayishkon) uses the verb root for 'dwelling' (shakhan), later forming 'Shekinah'—God's glorious presence. The cloud remains six days before God calls Moses—more waiting. Why? Testing patience? Building anticipation? The seventh-day call echoes creation's pattern—six days of work/preparation, seventh day of consummation. Moses enters God's rest on the seventh day. The whole narrative is saturated with Sabbath theology—God works six, rests seventh; we work six, rest seventh; covenant is made sixth day, confirmed seventh.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The glory of the LORD (kavod YHWH) is a central Old Testament concept—God's visible, weighty, majestic presence. It appeared at the Red Sea, Sinai, the tabernacle, and Solomon's temple. The Shekinah glory departed before exile (Ezekiel 10) and returned in Christ (John 1:14, 'dwelt' = eskenosen, from shakhan).

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does God make Moses wait six days before calling him—what does the waiting accomplish?
  2. How does the seventh-day call connect to Sabbath theology and God's creation pattern?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן1 of 17

abode

H7931

to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)

כְּבוֹד2 of 17

And the glory

H3519

properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness

יְהוָה֙3 of 17

of the LORD

H3068

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

עַל4 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַ֣ר5 of 17

upon mount

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

סִינַ֔י6 of 17

Sinai

H5514

sinai, mountain of arabia

וַיְכַסֵּ֥הוּ7 of 17

covered

H3680

properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)

הֶֽעָנָֽן׃8 of 17

and the cloud

H6051

a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud

שֵׁ֣שֶׁת9 of 17

it six

H8337

six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth

בַּיּ֥וֹם10 of 17

day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

וַיִּקְרָ֧א11 of 17

he called

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל12 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מֹשֶׁ֛ה13 of 17

unto Moses

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

בַּיּ֥וֹם14 of 17

day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י15 of 17

and the seventh

H7637

seventh

מִתּ֥וֹךְ16 of 17

out of the midst

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

הֶֽעָנָֽן׃17 of 17

and the cloud

H6051

a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud


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 24:16 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 24:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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