Exodus 19:8
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 19:8
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.
Chapter Context
Exodus 19 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of worship, righteousness, redemption. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-25: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 19:8
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.
Analysis
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.
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.
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'?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord
Cross-References
- References Lord: Exodus 24:7, Joshua 24:24
- Word: Exodus 24:3, Nehemiah 10:29
- References Moses: Exodus 20:19