Exodus 19:11
New International Version
and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

New Living Translation
Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.

English Standard Version
and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Berean Standard Bible
and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

King James Bible
And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

New King James Version
And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

New American Standard Bible
and have them ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

NASB 1995
and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

NASB 1977
and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Legacy Standard Bible
and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Amplified Bible
and be ready by the third day, because on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai [in the cloud] in the sight of all the people.

Christian Standard Bible
and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

American Standard Version
and be ready against the third day; for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

Contemporary English Version
and be ready by the day after tomorrow, when I will come down to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me.

English Revised Version
and be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and be ready by the day after tomorrow. On that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.

Good News Translation
and be ready the day after tomorrow. On that day I will come down on Mount Sinai, where all the people can see me.

International Standard Version
and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Majority Standard Bible
and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

NET Bible
and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

New Heart English Bible
and be ready against the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.

Webster's Bible Translation
And be ready against the third day: for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

World English Bible
and be ready for the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and have been prepared for the third day; for on the third day YHWH comes down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.

Young's Literal Translation
and have been prepared for the third day; for on the third day doth Jehovah come down before the eyes of all the people, on mount Sinai.

Smith's Literal Translation
And be ye prepared for the third day, for in the third day Jehovah will come down before the eyes of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And let them be ready against the third day: for on the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And let them be prepared on the third day. For on the third day, the Lord will descend, in the sight of all the people, over Mount Sinai.

New American Bible
and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

New Revised Standard Version
and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And be ready by the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they shall be ready for the third day, because in the third day LORD JEHOVAH shall go down before the eyes of all the people to the mountain of Sinai:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and be ready against the third day; for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And let them be ready against the third day, for on the third day the Lord will descend upon mount Sina before all the people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel at Mount Sinai
10Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes 11and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.…

Cross References
Hebrews 12:18-21
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; / to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. / For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” ...

Deuteronomy 4:10-12
The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.” / You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. / And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.

Revelation 1:10
On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

Psalm 29:3-9
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters. / The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. / The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. ...

2 Peter 1:17-18
For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” / And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

Acts 2:2-4
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. / They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. / And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Joel 2:1
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—

Zephaniah 1:14-16
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

Isaiah 6:1-4
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. / Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” ...

Ezekiel 1:24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.

1 Kings 19:11-12
Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. / After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.

Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.


Treasury of Scripture

And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on mount Sinai.

the Lord

Exodus 19:16,18,20
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled…

Exodus 3:8
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 34:5
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

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Eyes Mount Prepared Ready Sight Sinai Third
Exodus 19
1. The people arrive at Sinai
3. God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount
8. The people are prepared against the third day, for the giving of the law
12. The mountain must not be touched
16. The fearful presence of God upon the mount














And be ready
This phrase emphasizes preparation and anticipation. In Hebrew, the word for "ready" is "kun," which implies establishing or making firm. The Israelites were to prepare themselves spiritually and physically, signifying the importance of being in a state of readiness to encounter God. This preparation can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to be ready for the Lord's return, living in a state of holiness and expectation.

by the third day
The "third day" is significant throughout Scripture, often symbolizing divine intervention and completion. In Hebrew culture, the third day is associated with resurrection and new beginnings, as seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This timing underscores the importance of God's perfect timing and the fulfillment of His promises. It invites believers to trust in God's timing and His plans, which are always for our good and His glory.

because on that day
This phrase marks a specific, appointed time when God will act. It highlights the certainty and intentionality of God's actions. In the biblical narrative, God's timing is always precise, and His plans are executed with purpose. This assurance can inspire believers to trust in God's sovereignty and His perfect plan for their lives, even when the timing seems uncertain.

the LORD will come down
The phrase "the LORD will come down" signifies God's imminent presence and His willingness to dwell among His people. In Hebrew, "come down" is "yarad," indicating a descent from a higher place. This action demonstrates God's condescension and His desire to be intimately involved with His creation. It foreshadows the ultimate coming down of God in the person of Jesus Christ, who dwelt among us to bring salvation.

on Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai is a significant location in biblical history, representing the place where God gave the Law to Moses. It is a symbol of divine revelation and covenant. Archaeologically, Mount Sinai is identified with several locations, but its exact site remains debated. Regardless, it stands as a testament to God's holiness and His desire to establish a covenant relationship with His people. For Christians, it serves as a reminder of the new covenant established through Christ.

in the sight of all the people
This phrase underscores the public nature of God's revelation. God's descent on Mount Sinai was not a private event but a communal experience witnessed by all the Israelites. It highlights the importance of community in experiencing and understanding God's presence. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that faith is not just a personal journey but a shared experience within the body of Christ, where God's presence is made manifest among His people.

(11) Against the third day.--There is no special "significance" in this mention of "the third day." The important point is, that the purification was to continue through two entire days--one day not being sufficient. This taught the lesson that man's defilement is, in the sight of God, very great.

The Lord will come down in the sight of all the people.--See the comment on Exodus 19:9.

Verse 11. - The Lord win come down. Jehovah is regarded as dwelling in the heaven above, not exclusively (Psalm 139:7-10), but especially and therefore, when he appears on earth, he "comes down" (Genesis 11:5-7; Genesis 18:21; Exodus 3:8; etc.). In the sight of all the people. That a visible manifestation of the Divine presence is intended appears, unmistakably, from verses 16 and 18.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and be
וְהָי֥וּ (wə·hā·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

prepared
נְכֹנִ֖ים (nə·ḵō·nîm)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3559: To be erect

by the third
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י (haš·šə·lî·šî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

day,
לַיּ֣וֹם (lay·yō·wm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

for
כִּ֣י ׀ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

on the third
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י (haš·šə·lî·šî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

day
בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will come down
יֵרֵ֧ד (yê·rêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Mount
הַ֥ר (har)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

Sinai
סִינָֽי׃ (sî·nāy)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5514: Sinai -- the mountain where the law was given

in the sight
לְעֵינֵ֥י (lə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people.
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT Law: Exodus 19:11 And be ready against the third day (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 19:10
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