Revised Literal Translation

Exodus 19

1In the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔יha.she.li.ShiH7992monthבַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ba.Cho.deshH2320,when the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478were gone forthלְצֵ֥אתle.TzetH3318out of the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,the same dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117cameבָּ֖אוּBa.'uH935they intothe wildernessמִדְבַּ֥רmid.BarH4057of Sinaiסִינָֽי׃si.NaiH5514.

2For they were departedוַיִּסְע֣וּvai.yis.'UH5265from Rephidimמֵרְפִידִ֗יםme.re.fi.DimH7508,and were comeוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935tothe desertמִדְבַּ֣רmid.BarH4057of Sinaiסִינַ֔יsi.NaiH5514,and had pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֑רba.mid.BarH4057;and there Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478campedוַיִּֽחַן־vai.yi.chan-H2583before the mountהָהָֽר׃ha.HarH2022.

3And Mosesוּמֹשֶׁ֥הu.mo.ShehH4872went upעָלָ֖ה'a.LahH5927unto Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068calledוַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'H7121unto him out of the mountainהָהָ֣רha.HarH2022,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Thus shalt thou sayתֹאמַר֙to.MarH559to the houseלְבֵ֣יתle.VeitH1004of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,and tellוְתַגֵּ֖ידve.ta.GeidH5046the childrenלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478;

4Ye have seenרְאִיתֶ֔םre.'i.TemH7200what I didעָשִׂ֖יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213unto the Egyptiansלְמִצְרָ֑יִםle.mitz.Ra.yimH4714, and howI bareוָאֶשָּׂ֤אva.'e.Sa'H5375you on eagles’נְשָׁרִ֔יםne.sha.RimH5404wingsכַּנְפֵ֣יkan.FeiH3671,and broughtוָאָבִ֥אva.'a.Vi'H935you unto myself.

5Now therefore, if ye will obeyשָׁמ֤וֹעַsha.Mo.a'H8085my voiceבְּקֹלִ֔יbe.ko.LiH6963indeedתִּשְׁמְעוּ֙tish.me.'UH8085,and keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖םu.she.mar.TemH8104my covenantבְּרִיתִ֑יbe.ri.TiH1285,then ye shall be a peculiar treasureסְגֻלָּה֙se.gu.LahH5459unto me above all peopleהָ֣עַמִּ֔יםha.'a.MimH5971:for all the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776is mine:

6And ye shall be unto me a kingdomמַמְלֶ֥כֶתmam.Le.khetH4467of priestsכֹּהֲנִ֖יםko.ha.NimH3548,and an holyקָד֑וֹשׁka.Do.oshH6918nationוְג֣וֹיve.GoyH1471. These arethe wordsהַדְּבָרִ֔יםha.de.va.RimH1697which thou shalt speakתְּדַבֵּ֖רte.da.BerH1696unto the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

7And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872cameוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935and calledוַיִּקְרָ֖אvai.yik.Ra'H7121for the eldersלְזִקְנֵ֣יle.zik.NeiH2205of the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,and laidוַיָּ֣שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760before their facesלִפְנֵיהֶ֗םlif.nei.HemH6440all these wordsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697which Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068commandedצִוָּ֖הוּtzi.Va.huH6680him.

8And all the peopleהָעָ֤םha.'AmH5971answeredוַיַּעֲנ֨וּvai.ya.'a.NuH6030togetherיַחְדָּו֙yach.DavH3162,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,all that Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068hath spokenדִּבֶּ֥רdi.BerH1696we will doנַעֲשֶׂ֑הna.'a.SehH6213.And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872returnedוַיָּ֧שֶׁבvai.Ya.shevH7725the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971unto Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

9And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֗הmo.ShehH4872,Lo, I comeבָּ֣אba'H935unto thee in a thickבְּעַ֣בbe.'AvH5645cloudהֶֽעָנָן֒he.'a.NanH6051,that the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971may hearיִשְׁמַ֤עyish.Ma'H8085when I speakבְּדַבְּרִ֣יbe.da.be.RiH1696with thee, and believeיַאֲמִ֣ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuH539thee for everלְעוֹלָ֑םle.'o.LamH5769.And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872toldוַיַּגֵּ֥דvai.ya.GedH5046the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971unto Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

10And Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872,GoH3212unto the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971,and sanctifyוְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥םve.ki.dash.TamH6942them to dayהַיּ֖וֹםhai.YomH3117and to morrowוּמָחָ֑רu.ma.CharH4279,and let them washוְכִבְּס֖וּve.khi.be.SuH3526their clothesשִׂמְלֹתָֽם׃sim.lo.TamH8071,

11And be readyנְכֹנִ֖יםne.kho.NimH3559against the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑יha.she.li.ShiH7992dayלַיּ֣וֹםlai.YomH3117:for the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗יha.she.li.ShiH7992dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068will come downיֵרֵ֧דye.RedH3381in the sightלְעֵינֵ֥יle.'ei.NeiH5869of all the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971upon mountהַ֥רharH2022Sinaiסִינָֽי׃si.NaiH5514.

12And thou shalt set boundsוְהִגְבַּלְתָּ֤ve.hig.bal.TaH1379unto the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971round aboutסָבִ֣יבsa.VivH5439,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Take heedהִשָּׁמְר֥וּhi.sha.me.RuH8104to yourselves, that ye go notupעֲל֥וֹתa.LotH5927into the mountבָּהָ֖רba.HarH2022,or touchוּנְגֹ֣עַu.ne.Go.a'H5060the borderבְּקָצֵ֑הוּbe.ka.Tze.huH7097of it: whosoever touchethהַנֹּגֵ֥עַha.no.Ge.a'H5060the mountבָּהָ֖רba.HarH2022shall be surelyמ֥וֹתMotH4191put to deathיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191:

13There shall not an handיָ֗דYadH3027touchתִגַּ֨עti.Ga'H5060it, but he shall surelyסָק֤וֹלsa.KolH5619be stonedיִסָּקֵל֙yi.sa.KelH5619,orאוֹ־'ov-H176shotיָרֹ֣הya.RohH3384throughיִיָּרֶ֔הyi.ya.RehH3384; whether it bebeastבְּהֵמָ֥הbe.he.MahH929orH518manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376,it shall not liveיִחְיֶ֑הyich.YehH2421:when the trumpetהַיֹּבֵ֔לhai.yo.VelH3104soundeth longבִּמְשֹׁךְ֙bim.shoKhH4900,they shall come upיַעֲל֥וּya.'a.LuH5927to the mountבָהָֽר׃va.HarH2022.

14And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872went downוַיֵּ֧רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381from the mountהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022unto the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,and sanctifiedוַיְקַדֵּשׁ֙vay.ka.DeshH6942the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971;and they washedוַֽיְכַבְּס֖וּvay.kha.be.SuH3526their clothesשִׂמְלֹתָֽם׃sim.lo.TamH8071.

15And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559unto the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971,Beהֱי֥וּhe.YuH1961readyנְכֹנִ֖יםne.kho.NimH3559against the thirdלִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתlish.Lo.shetH7969dayיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117:comeתִּגְּשׁ֖וּti.ge.ShuH5066not at yourwivesאִשָּֽׁה׃'i.ShahH802.

16And it came to pass on the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜יha.she.li.ShiH7992dayבַיּ֨וֹםvai.YomH3117in the morningהַבֹּ֗קֶרha.Bo.kerH1242,that there were thundersקֹלֹ֨תko.LotH6963and lightningsוּבְרָקִ֜יםu.ve.ra.KimH1300,and a thickכָּבֵד֙ka.VedH3515cloudוְעָנָ֤ןve.'a.NanH6051upon the mountהָהָ֔רha.HarH2022,and the voiceוְקֹ֥לve.KolH6963of the trumpetשֹׁפָ֖רsho.FarH7782exceedingמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966loudחָזָ֣קcha.ZakH2389;so that all the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971that wasin the campבַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃Ba.ma.cha.NehH4264trembledוַיֶּחֱרַ֥דvai.ye.che.RadH2729.

17And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֧הmo.ShehH4872brought forthוַיּוֹצֵ֨אvai.yo.Tze'H3318the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971out of the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑הha.ma.cha.NehH4264to meetH7125with Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430;and they stoodוַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּvai.yit.ya.tze.VuH3320at the netherבְּתַחְתִּ֥יתbe.tach.TitH8482part of the mountהָהָֽר׃ha.HarH2022.

18And mountוְהַ֤רve.HarH2022Sinaiסִינַי֙si.NaiH5514was altogether on a smokeעָשַׁ֣ן'a.ShanH6225,becauseמִ֠פְּנֵי אֲשֶׁ֨רMi.pe.nei 'a.SherH834 H6440Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068descendedיָרַ֥דya.RadH3381upon it in fireבָּאֵ֑שׁba.'EshH784:and the smokeעֲשָׁנוֹ֙a.sha.NoH6227thereof ascendedוַיַּ֤עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927as the smokeכְּעֶ֣שֶׁןke.'E.shenH6227of a furnaceהַכִּבְשָׁ֔ןha.kiv.ShanH3536,and the whole mountהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022quakedוַיֶּחֱרַ֥דvai.ye.che.RadH2729greatlyמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966.

19And when the voiceH6963of the trumpetהַשּׁוֹפָ֔רha.sho.FarH7782soundedק֣וֹלKolH6963longהוֹלֵ֖ךְho.LekhH1980,and waxed louderוְחָזֵ֣קve.cha.ZekH2390and louderמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966,Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872spakeיְדַבֵּ֔רye.da.BerH1696,and Godוְהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםve.ha.'E.lo.HimH430answeredיַעֲנֶ֥נּוּya.'a.Ne.nuH6030him by a voiceבְקֽוֹל׃ve.KolH6963.

20And Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068came downוַיֵּ֧רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381upon mountהַ֥רharH2022Sinaiסִינַ֖יsi.NaiH5514,on the topרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218of the mountהָהָ֑רha.HarH2022:And Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068calledוַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'H7121Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֛הle.mo.ShehH4872uptoH413the topרֹ֥אשׁroshH7218of the mountהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022;and Mosesמֹשֶֽׁה׃mo.ShehH4872went upוַיַּ֥עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927.

21And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,Go downרֵ֖דredH3381,chargeהָעֵ֣דha.'EdH5749the peopleבָּעָ֑םba.'AmH5971,lest they break throughיֶהֶרְס֤וּye.her.SuH2040unto Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068to gazeלִרְא֔וֹתlir.'otH7200,and manyרָֽב׃RavH7227of them perishוְנָפַ֥לve.na.FalH5307.

22And let the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֛יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548also, which come nearהַנִּגָּשִׁ֥יםha.ni.ga.ShimH5066to Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,sanctifyיִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּyit.ka.Da.shuH6942themselves, lest Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068break forthיִפְרֹ֥ץyif.RotzH6555upon them.

23And Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,The peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971cannotיוּכַ֣לyu.KhalH3201come upלַעֲלֹ֖תla.'a.LotH5927to mountהַ֣רharH2022Sinaiסִינָ֑יsi.NaiH5514:for thou chargedstהַעֵדֹ֤תָהha.'e.Do.tahH5749us, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Set boundsהַגְבֵּ֥לhag.BelH1379about the mountהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022,and sanctifyוְקִדַּשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ve.ki.dash.ToH6942it.

24And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, AwayH3212,get thee downרֵ֔דRedH3381,and thou shalt come upוְעָלִ֥יתָve.'a.Li.taH5927,thou, and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֣ןve.'a.ha.RonH175with thee: but let not the priestsוְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣יםve.ha.ko.ha.NimH3548and the peopleוְהָעָ֗םve.ha.'AmH5971break throughיֶֽהֶרְס֛וּye.her.SuH2040to come upלַעֲלֹ֥תla.'a.LotH5927unto Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,lest he break forthיִפְרָץ־yif.rotz-H6555upon them.

25So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872went downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381unto the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,and spakeוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them.

Commentaries on Exodus 19