Hebrew Bible · Exodus 24:9–11

The sapphire pavement

ReferenceExodus 24:9–11

Writtenc. 900–500 BCE

SetThe Exodus

And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

Translation: KJV

Read it literally

Seventy-four men see a clear blue floor 'like the sky itself'. A transparent deck or window looking out at space.

What scholars say

Read as a vision of God's throne room on the mountain.

From the sky Looks like technology

Quick answers about Exodus 24:9–11

Where is Exodus 24:9–11 found?

Exodus 24:9–11 (Hebrew Bible). Translation quoted: King James Version (1611; standard 1769 text), with Apocrypha.

When was Exodus 24:9–11 written?

c. 900–500 BCE.

What do scholars say about Exodus 24:9–11?

Read as a vision of God's throne room on the mountain.

Sources

King James Version (1611; standard 1769 text), with ApocryphaPrimary text

Scholarly dates are rounded. The wording follows the named public-domain translation.

Updated October 2026