Exodus 19:3
And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Original Language Analysis
עָלָ֖ה
went up
H5927
עָלָ֖ה
went up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
2 of 17
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים
unto God
H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים
unto God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
4 of 17
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
וַיִּקְרָ֨א
called
H7121
וַיִּקְרָ֨א
called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
5 of 17
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
יְהוָה֙
and the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
and the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
8 of 17
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָהָ֣ר
unto him out of the mountain
H2022
הָהָ֣ר
unto him out of the mountain
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
9 of 17
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
כֹּ֤ה
H3541
כֹּ֤ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
לְבֵ֣ית
to the house
H1004
לְבֵ֣ית
to the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
13 of 17
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְתַגֵּ֖יד
and tell
H5046
וְתַגֵּ֖יד
and tell
Strong's:
H5046
Word #:
15 of 17
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
Cross References
Exodus 3:4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.Acts 7:38This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Historical Context
This is Moses' first of many ascents up Mount Sinai during the covenant-making process. Ancient Near Eastern treaties often involved mountain settings as witnesses, but here the mountain itself is the site of divine presence.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God use both 'Jacob' and 'Israel' to address the people, and what does this reveal about their identity?
- How does Moses' role as mediator prefigure Christ's superior priesthood (Hebrews 3:1-6)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Moses ascends as mediator between God and people—foreshadowing Christ's superior mediation. The dual naming 'house of Jacob' and 'children of Israel' is deliberate: Jacob represents their natural descent from the trickster-turned-patriarch, while Israel recalls Jacob's wrestling and transformation. God addresses both their origins (Jacob) and their destiny (Israel). The mountain becomes the meeting point—Moses climbing up while God calls down, establishing the pattern of divine-human covenant engagement where God initiates and man responds.