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Exodus 19:18

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 19:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Exodus 19:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman.
16And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.
17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18And 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.
19And when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
21And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.
← Exodus 19:17Exodus 19:19 →
← Full Chapter 19 Exodus Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, etc.] 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 <470312>2 Corinthians 3:12-18) 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, (<19A432>Psalm 104:32) and the smoke thereof…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A furnace - The word in the original is Egyptian, and occurs only in the Pentateuch. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 19:13; Isa 6:4; Rev 15:8 mount Sinai: Exo 20:18; Deu 4:11, Deu 4:12, Deu 5:22, Deu 33:2; Jdg 5:5; Psa 68:7, Psa 68:8, Psa 104:32, Psa 144:5 in fire: Exo 3:2, Exo 24:17; Ch2 7:1-3; Th2 1:8; Pe2 3:10 as the smoke: Gen 15:17, Gen 19:28; Psa 144:5; Rev 15:8 whole: Kg1 19:11, Kg1 19:12; Psa 68:8, Psa 77:18, Psa 114:7; Jer 4:24; Nah 1:5, Nah 1:6; Zac 14:5; Mat 24:7; Heb 12:26 Exodus 19:19”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 19 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification