Exodus 19:13
There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִגַּ֨ע
touch
H5060
תִגַּ֨ע
touch
Strong's:
H5060
Word #:
2 of 21
properly, to touch, i.e., lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive
יָ֗ד
There shall not an hand
H3027
יָ֗ד
There shall not an hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
4 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יִסָּקֵל֙
be stoned
H5619
יִסָּקֵל֙
be stoned
Strong's:
H5619
Word #:
6 of 21
properly, to be weighty; but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if a delapidation)
יִסָּקֵל֙
be stoned
H5619
יִסָּקֵל֙
be stoned
Strong's:
H5619
Word #:
7 of 21
properly, to be weighty; but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if a delapidation)
אֽוֹ
or
H176
אֽוֹ
or
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
8 of 21
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
יִיָּרֶ֔ה
shot
H3384
יִיָּרֶ֔ה
shot
Strong's:
H3384
Word #:
9 of 21
properly, to flow as water (i.e., to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e., to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by
יִיָּרֶ֔ה
shot
H3384
יִיָּרֶ֔ה
shot
Strong's:
H3384
Word #:
10 of 21
properly, to flow as water (i.e., to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e., to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by
אִם
or
H518
אִם
or
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
11 of 21
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
בְּהֵמָ֥ה
whether it be beast
H929
בְּהֵמָ֥ה
whether it be beast
Strong's:
H929
Word #:
12 of 21
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
אִם
or
H518
אִם
or
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
13 of 21
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אִ֖ישׁ
man
H376
אִ֖ישׁ
man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
14 of 21
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִֽחְיֶ֑ה
it shall not live
H2421
יִֽחְיֶ֑ה
it shall not live
Strong's:
H2421
Word #:
16 of 21
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
בִּמְשֹׁךְ֙
soundeth long
H4900
בִּמְשֹׁךְ֙
soundeth long
Strong's:
H4900
Word #:
17 of 21
to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)
הַיֹּבֵ֔ל
when the trumpet
H3104
הַיֹּבֵ֔ל
when the trumpet
Strong's:
H3104
Word #:
18 of 21
the blast of a horn (from its continuous sound); specifically, the signal of the silver trumpets; hence, the instrument itself and the festival thus i
Cross References
Hebrews 12:20(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:Exodus 19:19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.Exodus 19:16And 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.
Historical Context
The severity of these measures is unprecedented in ancient covenant ceremonies. The use of rams' horns (shofars) for sacred announcements becomes a lasting feature of Israelite worship and eschatological imagery (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Questions for Reflection
- Why must even animals that touch the mountain die—what does this teach about holiness?
- How does the trumpet blast that permits approach to the mountain foreshadow gospel access to God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Even the executioner cannot touch the violator—the contamination is so severe that stoning or shooting from distance is required. The impartiality ('beast or man') shows holiness violations transcend intent—even an unwitting animal crossing the boundary dies. This underscores holiness as objective reality, not subjective feeling. The extended trumpet blast (הַיֹּבֵל, hayovel) signals when boundaries lift—God Himself determines when approach is safe. The trumpet connects to the ram's horn (yovel = jubilee), pointing forward to ultimate liberation. When Christ the Mediator comes, the trumpet sounds and we CAN approach—but only through Him.