Exodus 19:8
And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּֽעֲנ֨וּ
answered
H6030
וַיַּֽעֲנ֨וּ
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 17
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָעָ֖ם
And all the people
H5971
הָעָ֖ם
And all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
3 of 17
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
כֹּ֛ל
H3605
כֹּ֛ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
דִּבֶּ֥ר
hath spoken
H1696
דִּבֶּ֥ר
hath spoken
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
8 of 17
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יְהוָֽה׃
All that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
All that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
נַֽעֲשֶׂ֑ה
we will do
H6213
נַֽעֲשֶׂ֑ה
we will do
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
10 of 17
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וַיָּ֧שֶׁב
returned
H7725
וַיָּ֧שֶׁב
returned
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
11 of 17
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
דִּבְרֵ֥י
the words
H1697
דִּבְרֵ֥י
the words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
14 of 17
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Cross References
Exodus 24:7And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.Exodus 24:3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.Nehemiah 10:29They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;Exodus 20:19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.Joshua 24:24And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern vassal treaties typically involved the vassal swearing loyalty to the suzerain. Israel's enthusiastic response mirrors this pattern, though their subsequent failures reveal human inability to maintain covenant faithfulness apart from divine enablement.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Israel's confident 'we will do' reveal about human nature's tendency toward self-reliance?
- How does the New Covenant address the problem exposed by Israel's failed 'we will do'?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Israel's unanimous response 'we will do' (נַעֲשֶׂה, na'aseh) sounds commendable but proves tragically overconfident—within weeks they'll worship the golden calf. This premature 'we will do' (works) precedes 'we will hear' (faith), reversing the proper order. At Sinai's renewal (Exodus 24:7), they say 'we will do and hear,' still emphasizing performance over receptivity. The contrast with the New Covenant is stark: Christ says 'It is finished'—He does what we cannot, and we respond in faith-obedience. Moses reports their words to the LORD, completing the mediatorial loop—representative covenant ratification awaits God's response.