Exodus 19:15

He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not go near your wives.” ¹ 

Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations."

He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."

He told them, "Get ready for an important event two days from now. And until then, abstain from having sexual intercourse."

Then he addressed the people: "Be ready in three days. Don't sleep with a woman."

And he said to the people, Be ready by the third day: do not come near a woman.

And he said to the people, "Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman."

And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives."

He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not go near your wives.” ¹ 

¹ tn Heb “do not go near a woman”; NIV “Abstain from sexual relations.”

sn B. Jacob (Exodus, 537) notes that as the people were to approach him they were not to lose themselves in earthly love. Such separations prepared the people for meeting God. Sinai was like a bride, forbidden to anyone else. Abstinence was the spiritual preparation for coming into the presence of the Holy One.