Exodus 19:23

KJV1611 – Modern English

And Moses said to the LORD, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you have warned us, saying, Set boundaries about the mount, and sanctify it.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל הָעָ֔ם לַעֲלֹ֖ת אֶל־הַ֣ר סִינָ֑י כִּֽי־אַתָּ֞ה הַעֵדֹ֤תָה בָּ֙נוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַגְבֵּ֥ל אֶת־הָהָ֖ר וְקִדַּשְׁתּֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

wə-yōʾmer mōšeh to YHWH not yûḵal the ʿām laʿălōt to har sînāy for you haʿēdōtāh in us lēʾmōr hagbēl ʾet-the hār wə-qiddaštô.

Grammar Details

• *wə-yōʾmer*: conjunction + verb, qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *mōšeh*: proper noun - Moses
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the divine name (Yahweh/Jehovah)
• *yûḵal*: verb, qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he is able
• *ʿām*: noun, masculine singular (with definite article) - the people
• *laʿălōt*: preposition + verb, qal infinitive construct - to go up
• *har*: noun, masculine singular construct - mountain of
• *sînāy*: proper noun - Sinai
• *haʿēdōtāh*: verb, hiphil perfect 2nd masculine singular - you have warned
• *lēʾmōr*: preposition + infinitive construct - saying
• *hagbēl*: verb, hiphil imperative masculine singular - set bounds
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *hār*: noun, masculine singular (with definite article) - the mountain
• *wə-qiddaštô*: conjunction + verb, piel perfect 2nd masculine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - and sanctify it

Word Meanings

• *yûḵal*: is able/can/has power
• *haʿēdōtāh*: you have warned/you have testified/you have admonished
• *hagbēl*: set bounds/mark boundaries/limit access

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Moses said to the LORD, 'The people cannot come up Mount Sinai because You yourself warned us, saying: Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Then Moses sayde vnto the Lorde: the people can not come vp in to mounte Sinai, for thou chargedest vs saynge: sett markes aboute the hyll and sanctifie it.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But Moses sayde vnto the LORDE: The people cannot come vp vpon mount Sinai, for thou hast charged vs, & sayde: Set markes aboute the mount, and sanctifie it.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And Moses sayde vnto the Lord, The people can not come vp into the mount Sinai: for thou hast charged vs, saying, Set markes on the mountaine, and sanctifie it.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And Moyses said vnto the Lord: The people can not come vp into the mount Sinai, for thou chargest vs, saying: set boundes about the hill, and sanctifie it.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you charged us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Moses saith unto Jehovah, `The people `is' unable to come up unto mount Sinai, for Thou -- Thou hast protested to us, saying, Make a border `for' the mount, then thou hast sanctified it.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And Moses said to the Lord, The people will not be able to come up the mountain, for you gave us orders to put limits round the mountain, marking it out and making it holy.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Moses said to the LORD,“The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, because you solemnly warned us,‘Set boundaries for the mountain and set it apart.’”

Referenced Verses

• Exod 19:12 : 12 And you shall set boundaries for the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that you do not go up into the mount, or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mount shall surely be put to death:
• Josh 3:4-5 : 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before. 5 And Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.