Exodus 31:18

“And he gave to Moses, when he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of Elohim.”

Exodus 31:18 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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18

Allusion · 2 Corinthians 3:3

Go to 2 Corinthians 3:3

Both texts speak of written “tablets of stone”: in Exodus 31:18, with the finger of Elohim; in 2 Corinthians 3:3, Paul sets hearts against them.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • לֻחֹתlujotH3871πλαξὶνplaxinG4109“tablet”
  • אֶבֶןevenH68λιθίναιςlithinaisG3035“stone”

Exodus 31:18, word by word

And he gaveיִּתֵּןyiten

give

To hand something over to someone: a gift, a payment, a charge or a land.

Where else “yiten” appears
to Mosesמֹשֶׁהmoshe

Moses

Moses, the man God called to bring Israel out of Egypt and through whom he gave the Law. His name sounds like "draw out" (Exodus 2:10).

Where else “moshe” appears
when he finishedכַלֹּתchalot

finish

To bring a work or a matter through to its end.

Where else “chalot” appears
speakingדַבֵּרdaber

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

Where else “daber” appears
on Mountהַרhar

mountain

A great rise of land, like Sinai or Zion.

Where else “har” appears
the twoשְׁנֵיshene

both

The two together, both of them.

Where else “shene” appears
tabletsלֻחֹתluchot

tablet

Tablet, a flat piece of stone, wood or metal to write on; also a board or plank.

Where else “luchot” appears
of the testimonyעֵדֻתedut

testimony

Testimony: the tablets of the covenant, which bear witness to what God commanded; "the ark of the testimony" holds them.

Where else “edut” appears
of stoneאֶבֶןeven

stone

A piece of rock, large or small, used for building, marking or throwing.

Where else “even” appears
writtenכְּתֻבִיםketuvim

write

To put words in writing, in a book or tablet, so that they last.

Where else “ketuvim” appears
with the fingerאֶצְבַּעetsba

finger

Finger; also toe.

Where else “etsba” appears
of Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohim” appears

Translation note

The “tablets of the testimony” had the ten words written on them (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:10).

Places in this verse

JerusalemSinai?
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Sinai ?

    Today: disputed; traditionally Jebel Musa, Sinai, Egypt

    A mountain in the wilderness; which one it was is not known for certain, and its location is disputed.

    There God spoke with Moses and gave the law to Israel (Exod 19:20; 24:16).

    Exodus 19:20Exodus 19:11Exodus 24:16Acts 7:38

The context

17Between me and the sons of Israel it is a sign forever; for in six days YHWH made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he ceased and caught his breath.’”

18 · This verse (above)

Read all of Exodus 31

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