The Church Fathers on this verse

Exodus 19:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He said unto him: Go down, and charge the people; lest they should have a mind to pass the limits to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them should perish.

Douay-Rheims

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה רֵ֖ד הָעֵ֣ד בָּעָ֑ם פֶּן־יֶהֶרְס֤וּ אֶל־יְהוָה֙ לִרְא֔וֹת וְנָפַ֥ל מִמֶּ֖נּוּ רָֽב׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Wlastow G.K.

19th centuryCommentator

The crowds may eagerly gather to witness something beyond their comprehension, for ‘no one has ever seen God’ (John 1:18). The Lord instructs Israel, emphasizing that they must not seek to behold Him, even out of profound love, cautioning them that those who approach His manifested glory without an understanding of its vastness will face destruction.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.