Exodus 19:19

19 and the sound of the trumpet is going on, and very strong; Moses speaketh, and God doth answer him with a voice.

Exodus 19:19 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:19

And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long
Not in one continued tone, as before, ( Exodus 19:13 ) , where a different word is used, and when it decreased, and was about to cease, which was to summon the people to attend; but now they were come to the foot of the mount, and this sounding was a preparation to the giving of the law unto them, and was not one continued even tone: but waxed louder and louder; or, "going, and exceeding strong"; or, "strengthening itself exceedingly" ^F24; it went on to an high pitch, until it was exceeding vehement and strong, and so sonorous as scarce to be bore:

Moses spake;
what he said is not here recorded; it is highly probable, as has been observed by some, that he uttered those words related of him in ( Hebrews 12:21 ) "I exceedingly fear and quake": such an impression did this loud and strong voice of the trumpet make upon him:

and God answered him by a voice;
a still and gentle one, in order to encourage and comfort him; and so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,

``with a pleasant and audible voice, and with delightful words.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (dam qzxw Klwh) (probainousai iscuroterai sfodra) , Sept. "iens et fortificans se valde", Montanus; "roborans se", Vatablus; "quum pergeret et invalesceret valde", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Exodus 19:19 In-Context

17 And Moses bringeth out the people to meet God from the camp, and they station themselves at the lower part of the mount,

18 and mount Sinai [is] wholly a smoke from the presence of Jehovah, who hath come down on it in fire, and its smoke goeth up as smoke of the furnace, and the whole mount trembleth exceedingly;

19 and the sound of the trumpet is going on, and very strong; Moses speaketh, and God doth answer him with a voice.

20 And Jehovah cometh down on mount Sinai, unto the top of the mount, and Jehovah calleth for Moses unto the top of the mount, and Moses goeth up.

21 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Go down, protest to the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to see, and many of them have fallen;