Exodus 19:23
ESV
And Moses said to the Lord, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’"
NIV
Moses said to the Lord, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ "
NASB
And Moses said to the Lord, 'The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’?'
CSB
Moses responded to the Lord, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since you warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consecrate it."
NLT
But Lord,' Moses protested, 'the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’'
KJV
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.
NKJV
But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”
What does Exodus 19:23 mean?
Moses agrees with the Lord's warning about the people breaking under the pressure of curiosity and impatience (Exodus 19:21–22). While preparations were being made (Exodus 19:9–11), the Israelites were told not to even touch Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:12–13). Only those explicitly invited by God were allowed to climb it (Exodus 19:3, 24). Eventually, a group of Israel's highest leaders will meet with the Lord on the mountain (Exodus 24:9).Sinai and Horeb are both used to describe the same general area (Deuteonomy 5:2). The specific "mountain of God" (Exodus 18:5; 24:13) has not been identified by modern archaeologists. This mountain is where God first called Moses (Exodus 3:1–2). It is where Moses and Aaron met to discuss their mission (Exodus 4:27), and where the Lord predicted the nation of Israel would come to serve Him (Exodus 3:12).
