The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that God Himself is the author of the law, stating He will give Moses "tables of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written." This highlights that the divine law isn't merely human instruction, but God's direct communication, personally inscribed for Israel's guidance.
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the people ratified God's covenant through sacrifices and a public declaration of obedience, God calls Moses, along with Aaron and others, up the mountain. However, a distinction is made: Moses is invited to ascend further to receive the stone tablets containing the Law, while the others are instructed to wait below, preparing for a significant and extended period of communion between Moses and God. This summons marks the transition from the covenant's ratification to the reception of its written statutes.
God doesn't just give instructions; He calls us into His presence. What does it mean to 'come up' and 'wait' for God's word?
In Exodus 24:12, God invites Moses to a specific place: 'Come up to me on the mountain and wait there.' This isn't a casual request; it's a divine summons.
God's law wasn't just spoken; it was written. Why is this tangible, written word so vital for teaching and obedience?
The verse emphasizes that God Himself is the author of the law given to Moses: 'which I have written.' This act of writing signifies several profound truths about God's communication with humanity.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God, revealing His self-existence, eternity, and faithfulness to His people. It is the personal name by which God entered into a formal relationship with Israel.
torah · Hebrew Noun
The standard of moral and religious life given by God to His people. It reflects God's holy character and provides the rules for human conduct and relationship with Him.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
An authoritative direction, order, or mandate given by a superior (God) to an inferior (man) that requires obedience and submission.
This passage directly references God writing His commands on stone, mirroring the event in Exodus 24:12 and reinforcing the divine origin and permanence of the law.
Hebrews 8:5This New Testament passage alludes to the 'patterns' or 'examples' shown to Moses on the mountain, connecting the divine instruction given in Exodus 24:12 to the heavenly reality it represented for Israel's worship.
John 1:14The concept of God dwelling with humanity, as seen in Moses ascending the mountain to commune with God, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the Word made flesh, who tabernacled among us.
Exodus 31:18This verse immediately follows the instructions for the Tabernacle and directly states that God gave Moses the two tablets of stone, confirming the content and purpose of the encounter described in Exodus 24:12.
clarkeExodus 24:12: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them."
Come up to me into the mount, and be there - We may suppose Moses to have been, with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders, about midway up the mount; for it plainly appears that there were several stations on it.
calvinExodus 24:1-18: "And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off."
- Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu. Before Moses erected the tabernacle and consecrated it by a solemn ceremony, it was necessary for him to fetch the Tables of the Covenant, which were a pledge of God's favor; otherwise, if the ark had nothing in it, the sanctuary would have been in a manner empty. For this rea…
The verse emphasizes that God Himself is the author of the law, stating He will give Moses "tables of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written." This highlights that the divine law isn't merely human instruction, but God's direct communication, personally inscribed for Israel's guidance.
After the people ratified God's covenant through sacrifices and a public declaration of obedience, God calls Moses, along with Aaron and others, up the mountain. However, a distinction is made: Moses is invited to ascend further to receive the stone tablets containing the Law, while the others are instructed to wait below, preparing for a significant and extended period of communion between Moses and God. This summons marks the transition from the covenant's ratification to the reception of its written statutes.
After the people ratified God's covenant through sacrifices and a public declaration of obedience, God calls Moses, along with Aaron and others, up the mountain. However, a distinction is made: Moses is invited to ascend further to receive the stone tablets containing the Law, while the others are instructed to wait below, preparing for a significant and extended period of communion between Moses and God. This summons marks the transition from the covenant's ratification to the reception of its written statutes.
"The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”" — The verse emphasizes that God Himself is the author of the law, stating He will give Moses "tables of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written." This highlights that the divine l…
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Last reviewed October 2026