Definition: 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:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 19:12. It’s a really important and dramatic passage about God’s judgment. Here's what it means in plain language: The Basic Idea: God is saying, “You need to put a stop to the people surrounding us.” Specifically, he wants them not to go near Mount Sinai, which was a special place where God had revealed his law and instructions to Moses and the Israelites. Let’s unpack it word by word: “And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about…” – This means “You must establish boundaries” or “You need to create limits.” “…saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount…” – This is the key part. God’s warning is specifically for the Israelites to not climb Mount Sinai. “Take heed” means "be careful" or “pay attention." “…or touch the border of it:” – This refers to the edge of the mount itself, the boundary line. “whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:” - This is a very serious statement. “Touch” means to make contact with something. "Surely" indicates that this punishment will absolutely happen. “Put to death” means to kill someone – in this case, it implies a very harsh and final judgment. What’s the Big Picture? This verse is a powerful example of God's absolute control over his people. It shows that God doesn't tolerate disobedience or defiance. He’s establishing clear rules for the Israelites to follow, and breaking those rules results in severe consequences. It’s a moment of intense judgment and separation from the divine presence. Important Context (Briefly): This happened after the Israelites had disobeyed God repeatedly by wandering off and not following his instructions about how to worship. God was incredibly angered by this, so he used this verse as a way to demonstrate his power and punish them for their disobedience. --- Do you want me to: Explain another passage from Exodus? Discuss the significance of this verse in relation to other parts of the Bible? Answer any specific questions you have about it?