Exodus 19:24
And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֶךְ
H1980
לֶךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
4 of 19
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
רֵ֔ד
get thee down
H3381
רֵ֔ד
get thee down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
5 of 19
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
לַֽעֲלֹ֥ת
and thou shalt come up
H5927
לַֽעֲלֹ֥ת
and thou shalt come up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
6 of 19
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
עִמָּ֑ךְ
H5973
עִמָּ֑ךְ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
9 of 19
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֣ים
with thee but let not the priests
H3548
וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֣ים
with thee but let not the priests
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
10 of 19
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
וְהָעָ֗ם
and the people
H5971
וְהָעָ֗ם
and the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
11 of 19
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
12 of 19
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּ
break through
H2040
יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּ
break through
Strong's:
H2040
Word #:
13 of 19
to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy
לַֽעֲלֹ֥ת
and thou shalt come up
H5927
לַֽעֲלֹ֥ת
and thou shalt come up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
14 of 19
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
16 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
פֶּן
H6435
פֶּן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
17 of 19
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
Historical Context
Aaron's inclusion here foreshadows his appointment as high priest (Exodus 28). The command structure establishes the mediatorial hierarchy that will govern Israelite worship—Moses supreme, Aaron priestly, people separated by degrees of holiness.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God require Aaron to accompany Moses this time when Moses previously ascended alone?
- How do the different levels of access (Moses, Aaron, priests, people) prefigure the tabernacle's structure?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
God insists on Moses' descent and return with Aaron—this isn't busywork but establishing Aaron's role as co-mediator and future high priest. Moses must 'come up' (וְעָלִיתָ, ve'alita) with Aaron—the partnership begins here. The warning is reiterated with threatening verb 'break forth' (יִפְרֹץ, yifrotz)—God may 'burst out' against presumption. Three groups are distinguished: Moses (unique access), Aaron (priestly access), priests/people (restricted access). The gradations of holiness (most holy place, holy place, court, camp) that will structure the tabernacle are here spatially depicted on the mountain. Access corresponds to consecration; intimacy requires purity.