Exodus 19:18
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Original Language Analysis
הָהָ֖ר
And mount
H2022
הָהָ֖ר
And mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
1 of 18
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
עָשַׁ֣ן
was altogether on a smoke
H6225
עָשַׁ֣ן
was altogether on a smoke
Strong's:
H6225
Word #:
3 of 18
to smoke, whether literal or figurative
כֻּלּ֔וֹ
H3605
כֻּלּ֔וֹ
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִ֠פְּנֵי
because
H6440
מִ֠פְּנֵי
because
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 18
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָרַ֥ד
descended
H3381
יָרַ֥ד
descended
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
7 of 18
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
עָלָ֛יו
H5921
עָלָ֛יו
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְהוָ֖ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וַיַּ֤עַל
thereof ascended
H5927
וַיַּ֤עַל
thereof ascended
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
11 of 18
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
כְּעֶ֣שֶׁן
and the smoke
H6227
כְּעֶ֣שֶׁן
and the smoke
Strong's:
H6227
Word #:
12 of 18
smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust, anger)
כְּעֶ֣שֶׁן
and the smoke
H6227
כְּעֶ֣שֶׁן
and the smoke
Strong's:
H6227
Word #:
13 of 18
smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust, anger)
וַיֶּֽחֱרַ֥ד
quaked
H2729
וַיֶּֽחֱרַ֥ד
quaked
Strong's:
H2729
Word #:
15 of 18
to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Judges 5:5The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.Psalms 144:5Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.Revelation 15:8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.Exodus 3:2And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.Jeremiah 4:24I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.Genesis 19:28And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.Psalms 104:32He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.Exodus 24:17And 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.Deuteronomy 33:2And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.Deuteronomy 5:22These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
Historical Context
Some scholars propose volcanic activity at Sinai, but the description exceeds natural phenomena—this is supernatural theophany. The furnace imagery would powerfully speak to Israelites fresh from Egyptian brick kilns—God's refining fire versus Pharaoh's enslaving fire.
Questions for Reflection
- What does fire as God's mode of manifestation teach about His nature?
- How does Sinai's smoking mountain connect to the pillar of cloud/fire that led Israel?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Sinai becomes a furnace—'altogether smoke' (עָשַׁן כֻּלּוֹ, ashan kullo) means totally enveloped. God 'descended in fire' (יָרַד עָלָיו בָּאֵשׁ, yarad alav ba'esh)—fire manifests consuming holiness. The imagery recalls Egypt's plagues (hail and fire, Exodus 9:24) but now God's fire establishes covenant rather than judgment. The smoke ascends 'like a furnace' (כְּעֶשֶׁן הַכִּבְשָׁן, ke'eshen hakivshan)—perhaps recalling Abraham's covenant vision (Genesis 15:17). The mountain 'quaked greatly' (וַיֶּחֱרַד, vayecherad)—creation itself trembles before Creator. This isn't gentle Jesus meek and mild; this is the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) whose holiness terrifies.