Exodus 19:8
ESV
All the people answered together and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
NIV
The people all responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
NASB
Then all the people answered together and said, 'All that the Lord has spoken we will do!' And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.
CSB
Then all the people responded together, "We will do all that the Lord has spoken." So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord.
NLT
And all the people responded together, 'We will do everything the Lord has commanded.' So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord.
KJV
And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.
NKJV
Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.
What does Exodus 19:8 mean?
In this verse, we see Moses acting as the literal "go-between" for the Lord and the nation of Israel. God speaks to Moses, and Moses brings that message to the people. When the people respond, Moses brings their message back. As the omnipotent (Deuteronomy 3:24; Isaiah 43:13), omniscient (Psalm 139:1–6) Creator (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3), God already knows what the people have said. But for now, He intends Moses to lead the people as His spokesman (Exodus 16:8; 34:34).Here, the message from God was about obedience to His commands (Exodus 19:3–6). The people receive this and agree that they will cooperate. Israel's history would show a wide range of responses; sometimes obedience (1 Kings 15:11; 2 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 31:20) and others disobedience (Judges 2:17; 1 Kings 11:11–13; 2 Kings 21:22).
Obedience is even required before Israel can receive details about the covenant. The Lord commands them to prepare (Exodus 19:10–12) and wait, and they obey (Exodus 19:14). Only then does God arrive on Sinai to enact this arrangement with the people (Exodus 19:20). This follows a common pattern in Scripture: requirements of preparation and waiting before God begins to work in some powerful way (Genesis 17:15–21; 31:41–42; 50:19–20; 1 Kings 18:1; Matthew 4:1).
Exodus 19:1–15 records God's instructions to Israel at the base of Mount Sinai, also referred to as "the mountain of God" or Horeb. The Lord tells Israel He is going to make them a special nation; this means establishing a covenant with the people. God will meet with Moses only. No man, woman, or animal may otherwise touch the mountain where God comes down.
God instructs the Israelites to prepare for His arrival on Mount Sinai in Horeb. They are to be clean and careful not to come onto the mountain itself. When God appears, He arrives amidst smoke, fire, lightning, earthquakes, and noise. Moses travels to the mountaintop and back, relaying messages about God's will. The first and most important of these are the fundamental principles of Old Testament law: the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–21).
