Exodus 19:17
And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Original Language Analysis
וַיּוֹצֵ֨א
brought forth
H3318
וַיּוֹצֵ֨א
brought forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
1 of 11
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָעָ֛ם
the people
H5971
הָעָ֛ם
the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
4 of 11
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
לִקְרַ֥את
to meet
H7125
לִקְרַ֥את
to meet
Strong's:
H7125
Word #:
5 of 11
an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים
with God
H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים
with God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
6 of 11
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה
out of the camp
H4264
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה
out of the camp
Strong's:
H4264
Word #:
8 of 11
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ
and they stood
H3320
וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ
and they stood
Strong's:
H3320
Word #:
9 of 11
to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue
Historical Context
The spatial arrangement—people at the base, Moses ascending, God at the summit—physically depicts covenant hierarchy. Ancient Near Eastern coronations and theophanies often involved mountains, but Sinai's accessibility-yet-distance is unique.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Israel's position at the mountain's base teach about Old Covenant access to God?
- How does Christ's mediation remove the distance that separated Israel from God at Sinai?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Moses 'brought forth' (וַיּוֹצֵא, vayotze) the people—they wouldn't venture out on their own. The same verb used for God bringing Israel OUT of Egypt now describes Moses bringing them OUT to meet God. Redemption leads to revelation; salvation aims at relationship. They 'stood at the nether part' (בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר, betachtit hahar)—the mountain's base, the limit of approach. The positioning is pregnant with meaning: as close as possible without dying, near enough to receive yet far enough to survive. This is Old Covenant proximity—close but not intimate, audible but not embraceable. The New Covenant removes this distance: we approach the throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).