And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

EXODUS 19:14KJV
Know the Bible

Exodus 19:14 (KJV)

What does Exodus 19:14 mean?

Exodus 19:14 describes Moses coming down from Mount Sinai to the Israelites and preparing them by making them holy, which included having them wash their clothes. The verse shows a moment where the people are being set apart for something special, getting ready to meet with God.

Moses is acting as the leader and mediator between God and the Israelites. God had just given Moses instructions on how the people should get ready for His appearance on the mountain. The act of "sanctifying" the people and having them wash their clothes is a way of making them ritually clean, highlighting the seriousness and importance of what is about to happen.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 19:14

  • "Sanctified" comes from קָדַשׁ (qadash), which means to make holy or set apart. Here, it shows that Moses is helping the people prepare themselves in a special way for God's presence, not just physically but spiritually.
  • "Washed" is from כָּבַס (kavas), meaning to wash or clean, usually referring to garments. This detail points to the importance of outward cleanliness as a symbol of inner readiness.
  • "Clothes" is שִׂמְלָה (simlah), which refers to their outer garments. The focus on clothing underlines the visible, communal nature of the preparation.

Why Exodus 19:14 matters

  • This verse clears up that being ready to meet God involved both spiritual and physical preparation, not just an inward attitude.
  • Exodus 19:14 connects to the wider passage by showing Moses carefully following God's instructions, emphasizing obedience and respect for God's holiness.
  • The verse highlights the role of leadership in guiding a community toward reverence and readiness for significant spiritual moments.

Where else these words appear

“clothes” Hebrew H8071 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
  • Exodus 19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
  • Judges 8:25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

“washed” Hebrew H3526 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 49:11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
  • Leviticus 15:5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
  • Numbers 8:21 And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.