King James Bible
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD."
God announces His intention to appear in a dense cloud—a theophany that both reveals His presence and conceals His full glory. The cloud serves as a protective barrier, as direct sight of God would be fatal to mortals, while still manifesting His awesome power at Sinai. God's purpose is to publicly authenticate Moses' leadership by allowing Israel to witness their divine conversation. This audible confirmation would establish Moses' prophetic authority permanently, addressing any future doubts about his role as mediator between God and the nation. Moses fulfills his mediatorial function by relaying the people's response back to God, likely their agreement to obey from verse 8. This reciprocal communication pattern emphasizes Moses' unique position as the covenant intermediary at this pivotal moment before the giving of the Law.