Exodus 24:16
And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן
abode
H7931
וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן
abode
Strong's:
H7931
Word #:
1 of 17
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
כְּבוֹד
And the glory
H3519
כְּבוֹד
And the glory
Strong's:
H3519
Word #:
2 of 17
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַ֣ר
upon mount
H2022
הַ֣ר
upon mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
5 of 17
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וַיְכַסֵּ֥הוּ
covered
H3680
וַיְכַסֵּ֥הוּ
covered
Strong's:
H3680
Word #:
7 of 17
properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
הֶֽעָנָֽן׃
and the cloud
H6051
הֶֽעָנָֽן׃
and the cloud
Strong's:
H6051
Word #:
8 of 17
a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud
שֵׁ֣שֶׁת
it six
H8337
שֵׁ֣שֶׁת
it six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
9 of 17
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
בַּיּ֥וֹם
day
H3117
בַּיּ֥וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
10 of 17
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וַיִּקְרָ֧א
he called
H7121
וַיִּקְרָ֧א
he called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
11 of 17
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
בַּיּ֥וֹם
day
H3117
בַּיּ֥וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
14 of 17
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
Cross References
Exodus 16:10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.Numbers 16:42And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.Psalms 99:7He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.Ezekiel 1:28As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.Numbers 14:10But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.Leviticus 9:23And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
Historical Context
The glory of the LORD (kavod YHWH) is a central Old Testament concept—God's visible, weighty, majestic presence. It appeared at the Red Sea, Sinai, the tabernacle, and Solomon's temple. The Shekinah glory departed before exile (Ezekiel 10) and returned in Christ (John 1:14, 'dwelt' = eskenosen, from shakhan).
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God make Moses wait six days before calling him—what does the waiting accomplish?
- How does the seventh-day call connect to Sabbath theology and God's creation pattern?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
'Glory of the LORD' (כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, kevod YHWH) is God's weighty presence, His manifest excellence. The glory 'abode' (וַיִּשְׁכֹּן, vayishkon) uses the verb root for 'dwelling' (shakhan), later forming 'Shekinah'—God's glorious presence. The cloud remains six days before God calls Moses—more waiting. Why? Testing patience? Building anticipation? The seventh-day call echoes creation's pattern—six days of work/preparation, seventh day of consummation. Moses enters God's rest on the seventh day. The whole narrative is saturated with Sabbath theology—God works six, rests seventh; we work six, rest seventh; covenant is made sixth day, confirmed seventh.