The Meaning of Exodus 19:12 Explained

Exodus 19:12

KJV: And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

YLT: And thou hast made a border for the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, going up into the mount, or coming against its extremity; whoever is coming against the mount is certainly put to death;

Darby: And set bounds round about the people, saying, Take heed to yourselves, not to go up unto the mountain nor touch the border of it: whatever toucheth the mountain shall certainly be put to death:

ASV: And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt set bounds  unto the people  round about,  saying,  Take heed  to yourselves, [that ye] go [not] up  into the mount,  or touch  the border  of it: whosoever toucheth  the mount  shall be surely  put to death: 

What does Exodus 19:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 19:1-15 - Moses Receives Jehovah's Words In The Mount
The plain beneath Sinai, where Israel encamped, has been identified, and the reader should study the books of travelers which afford a mental conception of the scene. The brilliant colors, in which red sandstone predominates; the shattered, thunder-stricken peaks; the awful silence; the utter absence of vegetation; the level plain giving abundant opportunity for all to hear and see-all these deserve notice. The tenderness of the divine address is very touching. Nor are we excluded from these promises, if we are among Abraham's spiritual children. See Romans 4:10. If God could carry this multitude of people, He is sufficient for us and our burdens. We also may be His peculiar treasure and a kingdom of priests.
But Israel's solemn pledge was a profound mistake. Had they known themselves better, they would never have made it, and one design of the Decalogue was to show how absolutely impossible it is for any to be justified by the works of the Law. Pentecost, which Whitsuntide commemorates, took place on the anniversary of this august scene. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 19

1  The people arrive at Sinai
3  God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount
8  The people are prepared against the third day, for the giving of the law
12  The mountain must not be touched
16  The fearful presence of God upon the mount

What do the individual words in Exodus 19:12 mean?

And You shall set bounds for - the people all around saying take heed to yourselves [that] you do [not] go up to the mountain or touch its base Whoever touches the mountain surely shall be put to death
וְהִגְבַּלְתָּ֤ אֶת־ הָעָם֙ סָבִ֣יב לֵאמֹ֔ר הִשָּׁמְר֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם עֲל֥וֹת בָּהָ֖ר וּנְגֹ֣עַ בְּקָצֵ֑הוּ כָּל־ הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ בָּהָ֖ר מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת

וְהִגְבַּלְתָּ֤  And  You  shall  set  bounds  for 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: גָּבַל  
Sense: to bound, border.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעָם֙  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
סָבִ֣יב  all  around 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
לֵאמֹ֔ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הִשָּׁמְר֥וּ  take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
לָכֶ֛ם  to  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
עֲל֥וֹת  [that]  you  do  [not]  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
בָּהָ֖ר  to  the  mountain 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
וּנְגֹ֣עַ  or  touch 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
בְּקָצֵ֑הוּ  its  base 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָצֶה 
Sense: end, extremity.
כָּל־  Whoever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ  touches 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
בָּהָ֖ר  the  mountain 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
מ֥וֹת  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
יוּמָֽת  shall  be  put  to  death 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.