Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Exodus 19:18

Mount Sinai was all smoke because God had come down on it as fire. Smoke poured from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shuddered in huge spasms. The trumpet blasts grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered in thunder. God descended to the peak of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up to the peak and Moses climbed up.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Earthquakes;   Fire;   God;   Law;   Miracles;   Reverence;   Sinai;   Trumpet;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;   Thompson Chain Reference - Earthquakes;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fire;   Law of Moses, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Exodus;   Fire;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Earthquake;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Building;   Fire;   Holy, Holiness;   Prophet, Prophetess, Prophecy;   Sanctification;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Commandments, the Ten;   Festivals, Religious;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Cloud;   Fire;   Mediator;   Sabbath;   Tongues, Gift of;   Trumpets, Feast of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baptism of Fire;   Exodus, Book of;   Fire;   Mount Sinai;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Earthquake;   Exodus;   Mediator, Mediation;   Moses;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Fire;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Sina, Sinai ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Fire;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Furnace;   Sinai;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Furnace;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fire;   Sinai;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Fire;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Encampment at Sinai;   Events of the Encampment;   Proclamation of the Law;   Tabernacle, the;   Peculiarities of the Law of Moses;   Law of Moses, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ascend;   Blackness;   Bush, the Burning;   Earthquake;   Fire;   God;   Moses;   Omnipresence;   Tongues of Fire;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Aristobulus of Paneas;   Earthquake;   Furnace;   Holiness;   Theophany;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because the LORD descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
King James Version
And 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.
Lexham English Bible
And Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke because Yahweh went down on it in the fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a smelting furnace, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.
New Century Version
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord came down on it in fire. The smoke rose from the mountain like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook wildly.
New English Translation
Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.
Amplified Bible
Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
New American Standard Bible
Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the entire mountain quaked violently.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And mount Sinai was all on smoke, because the Lorde came downe vpon it in fire, and the smoke therof ascended, as the smoke of a fornace, and all the mount trembled exceedingly.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Yahweh descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.
Contemporary English Version
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had come down in a flaming fire. Smoke poured out of the mountain just like a furnace, and the whole mountain shook.
Complete Jewish Bible
Mount Sinai was enveloped in smoke, because Adonai descended onto it in fire — its smoke went up like the smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.
Darby Translation
And the whole of mount Sinai smoked, because Jehovah descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace; and the whole mountain shook greatly.
Easy-to-Read Version
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke. Smoke rose off the mountain like smoke from a furnace. This happened because the Lord came down to the mountain in fire. Also the whole mountain began to shake.
English Standard Version
Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.
George Lamsa Translation
And the whole mountain of Sinai was smoking because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
Good News Translation
All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord had come down on it in fire. The smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people trembled violently.
Christian Standard Bible®
Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.
Literal Translation
And the mountain of Sinai was smoking, all of it, because Jehovah came down on it in fire. And its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace; and the mountain quaked exceedingly.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But all mount Sinai smoked, because ye LORDE came downe vpo it with fyre. And the smoke therof wente vp as the smoke of a fornace, so that the whole mount was exceadinge terrible.
American Standard Version
And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Bible in Basic English
And all the mountain of Sinai was smoking, for the Lord had come down on it in fire: and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a great burning; and all the mountain was shaking.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lorde descended downe vpon it in fire, and the smoke thereof, ascended vp as the smoke of a furnace, and all the mount quaked exceedyngly.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now mount Sinai was altogether on 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.
King James Version (1611)
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended vpon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The mount of Sina was altogether on a smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire; and the smoke went up as the smoke of a furnace, and the people were exceedingly amazed.
English Revised Version
And mount Sinai was altogether on 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.
Berean Standard Bible
Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe al the hil of Synai smokide, for the Lord hadde come doun theronne in fier; and smoke stiede therof as of a furneis, and al the hil was ferdful;
Young's Literal Translation
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;
Update Bible Version
And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Webster's Bible Translation
And mount Sinai was altogether in a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke of it ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount trembled greatly.
World English Bible
Mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
New King James Version
Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain [fn] quaked greatly.
New Living Translation
All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.
New Life Bible
Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord came down upon it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a stove. And the whole mountain shook.
New Revised Standard
Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Mount Sinai, smoked, all over, because Yahweh had come down thereon in fire, - and the smoke thereof went up as the smoke of a furnace, and all the mountain trembled exceedingly.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all Mount Sinai was on a smoke: because the Lord was come down upon it in fire, and the smoke arose from it as out of a furnace: and all the mount was terrible.
Revised Standard Version
And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.

Contextual Overview

16 On the third day at daybreak, there were loud claps of thunder, flashes of lightning, a thick cloud covering the mountain, and an ear-piercing trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp shuddered in fear. 17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at attention at the base of the mountain. 18Mount Sinai was all smoke because God had come down on it as fire. Smoke poured from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shuddered in huge spasms. The trumpet blasts grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered in thunder. God descended to the peak of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up to the peak and Moses climbed up. 21 God said to Moses, "Go down. Warn the people not to break through the barricades to get a look at God lest many of them die. And the priests also, warn them to prepare themselves for the holy meeting, lest God break out against them." 23 Moses said to God , "But the people can't climb Mount Sinai. You've already warned us well telling us: ‘Post boundaries around the mountain. Respect the holy mountain.'" 24 God told him, "Go down and then bring Aaron back up with you. But make sure that the priests and the people don't break through and come up to God , lest he break out against them." 25 So Moses went down to the people. He said to them:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Exodus 19:13, Isaiah 6:4, Revelation 15:8

mount Sinai: Exodus 20:18, Deuteronomy 4:11, Deuteronomy 4:12, Deuteronomy 5:22, Deuteronomy 33:2, Judges 5:5, Psalms 68:7, Psalms 68:8, Psalms 104:32, Psalms 144:5

in fire: Exodus 3:2, Exodus 24:17, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 2 Peter 3:10

as the smoke: Genesis 15:17, Genesis 19:28, Psalms 144:5, Revelation 15:8

whole: 1 Kings 19:11, 1 Kings 19:12, Psalms 68:8, Psalms 77:18, Psalms 114:7, Jeremiah 4:24, Nahum 1:5, Nahum 1:6, Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:7, Hebrews 12:26

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:11 - the Lord Exodus 34:5 - descended Deuteronomy 4:33 - General Deuteronomy 5:4 - General Deuteronomy 9:15 - the mount Deuteronomy 10:4 - out of the 1 Samuel 14:15 - the earth quaked 2 Samuel 22:9 - went 1 Kings 19:8 - Horeb Psalms 50:3 - a fire Psalms 114:4 - General Isaiah 64:1 - that thou wouldest come

Cross-References

Genesis 19:6
Lot went out, barring the door behind him, and said, "Brothers, please, don't be vile! Look, I have two daughters, virgins; let me bring them out; you can take your pleasure with them, but don't touch these men—they're my guests."
Genesis 19:12
The two men said to Lot, "Do you have any other family here? Sons, daughters—anybody in the city? Get them out of here, and now! We're going to destroy this place. The outcries of victims here to God are deafening; we've been sent to blast this place into oblivion."
Genesis 32:26
The man said, "Let me go; it's daybreak." Jacob said, "I'm not letting you go 'til you bless me."
Isaiah 45:11
Thus God , The Holy of Israel, Israel's Maker, says: "Do you question who or what I'm making? Are you telling me what I can or cannot do? I made earth, and I created man and woman to live on it. I handcrafted the skies and direct all the constellations in their turnings. And now I've got Cyrus on the move. I've rolled out the red carpet before him. He will build my city. He will bring home my exiles. I didn't hire him to do this. I told him. I, God -of-the-Angel-Armies."
Acts 9:13
Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us."
Acts 10:14
Peter said, "Oh, no, Lord. I've never so much as tasted food that was not kosher."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke,.... Not from nature, as volcanos, but for a reason after given; it seemed to be one large body of smoke, nothing else to be seen but smoke; an emblem of the darkness of the legal dispensation, which was full of obscure types and figures, of dark shadows and smoky sacrifices, to which the clear day, of the Gospel dispensation is opposed, see 2 Corinthians 3:12

because the Lord descended upon it in fire; in flaming fire, as the Targums, which set the mountain on fire, and caused this prodigious smoke; for if he, who is a consuming fire, but toucheth the hills and mountains, they smoke, Psalms 104:32

and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace such an one as that which Abraham in vision saw, Genesis 15:17

and the whole mount quaked greatly; to which circumstance Deborah refers in her song, when she speaks of mountains melting and flowing from before the presence of the God of Israel, and particularly of Sinai, Judges 5:4, and the psalmist, who makes mention of the earth shaking, and the heavens dropping, and of Sinai being moved at his presence, Psalms 68:8, it is probable there was an earthquake at this time, which sometimes attends thunders and lightnings, see

Revelation 16:18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A furnace - The word in the original is Egyptian, and occurs only in the Pentateuch.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile