Exodus 24:3
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר
and told
H5608
וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר
and told
Strong's:
H5608
Word #:
3 of 23
properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra
הָעָ֜ם
and all the people
H5971
הָעָ֜ם
and all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
4 of 23
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַדְּבָרִ֛ים
All the words
H1697
הַדְּבָרִ֛ים
All the words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
7 of 23
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְאֵ֖ת
H853
וְאֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֑ים
and all the judgments
H4941
הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֑ים
and all the judgments
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
11 of 23
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
וַיַּ֨עַן
answered
H6030
וַיַּ֨עַן
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
12 of 23
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,
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָעָ֜ם
and all the people
H5971
הָעָ֜ם
and all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
14 of 23
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֶחָד֙
with one
H259
אֶחָד֙
with one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
16 of 23
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
18 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַדְּבָרִ֛ים
All the words
H1697
הַדְּבָרִ֛ים
All the words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
19 of 23
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
20 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
דִּבֶּ֥ר
hath said
H1696
דִּבֶּ֥ר
hath said
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
21 of 23
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Cross References
Exodus 19:8And 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.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.Joshua 24:22And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.Deuteronomy 5:1And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.Deuteronomy 6:1Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:Deuteronomy 4:1Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.Deuteronomy 4:5Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.Deuteronomy 4:45These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt,
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern treaty ratifications involved verbal oaths by vassals. Israel's unanimous 'we will do' legally binds them to covenant terms. Their subsequent failure demonstrates human inability to keep the law perfectly.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Israel's confident 'we will do' reveal about human nature's self-assessment?
- How does Israel's covenant failure point to the necessity of Christ's perfect obedience?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And 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 spoken will we do.
Moses reports all God's words (Ten Commandments) and judgments (mishpatim, chs. 21-23). The people respond unanimously: 'All...we will do' (כָּל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר יְהוָה נַעֲשֶׂה, kol asher-dibber YHWH na'aseh). This is covenant ratification's first stage—verbal assent. Verse 7 repeats with added 'we will hear'—reversing the proper order (hear then do). Israel's overconfidence ('we will do') doesn't account for indwelling sin. Within weeks they'll violate the second commandment (golden calf). Human vows fail; Christ's obedience succeeds. He alone says 'I always do what pleases Him' (John 8:29).