Exodus 24:17
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
וּמַרְאֵה֙
And the sight
H4758
וּמַרְאֵה֙
And the sight
Strong's:
H4758
Word #:
1 of 10
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
כְּב֣וֹד
of the glory
H3519
כְּב֣וֹד
of the glory
Strong's:
H3519
Word #:
2 of 10
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּרֹ֣אשׁ
on the top
H7218
בְּרֹ֣אשׁ
on the top
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
6 of 10
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
הָהָ֑ר
of the mount
H2022
הָהָ֑ר
of the mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
7 of 10
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
לְעֵינֵ֖י
in the eyes
H5869
לְעֵינֵ֖י
in the eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
8 of 10
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Cross References
Hebrews 12:29For our God is a consuming fire.Hebrews 12:18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,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.Deuteronomy 4:36Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.Exodus 19:18And 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.Deuteronomy 4:24For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.Ezekiel 1:27And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
Historical Context
Fire is the dominant theophanic element at Sinai—God manifests as fire, smoke, lightning. Ancient Near Eastern gods were often associated with storm and fire, but YHWH is not a fire-god; He manifests via fire to communicate holiness.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's manifestation as 'devouring fire' teach about His holiness?
- How does Moses entering the consuming fire prefigure Christ enduring God's wrath for us?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And 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.
From below, God's glory looks like 'devouring fire' (אֵשׁ אֹכֶלֶת, esh okhelet)—consuming, terrifying. 'On the top' (בְּרֹאשׁ, berosh) the mountain, visible to all below. The people see what Moses enters—fire that would consume them kills him not. This demonstrates his unique calling—mediator survives what would destroy others. The fire imagery recurs: burning bush (Exodus 3), pillar of fire (Exodus 13), God descending in fire (19:18), Shekinah fire in tabernacle/temple. Hebrews 12:29 declares 'our God is consuming fire'—He is dangerously holy. Approaching requires mediation (Moses, then Christ).