Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageHe told the people, "Be ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman."
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GHe said to the people, "Be ready for three days. Do not approach a woman."
KJV
King James VersionAnd he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
BSB
Berean Standard Bible“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
Footnotes
אַל־תִּגְּשׁוּ אֶל־אִשָּׁה (al-tigshu el-isha) — "do not approach a woman" — this reflects the ancient connection between sexual activity and ritual impurity (cf. Leviticus 15:16–18; 1 Samuel 21:5). Consecration for encounter with the Holy One required bodily abstinence. This instruction is addressed to the men and is Moshe's own addition beyond YHWH's command to "consecrate them" — the Talmud (Shabbat 87a) counts this as one of three things Moshe did on his own authority that YHWH subsequently approved. Both versions render this literally; the ancient audience would have understood it within their ritual purity framework.