Exodus 34:5-9

5 The LORD 1descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and 2proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 3"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and 4gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast 5love and faithfulness,
7 6keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a]7forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but 8who will by no means clear the guilty, 9visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."
8 And Moses quickly 10bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.
9 And he said, "If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please 11let the Lord go in the midst of us, for 12it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for 13your inheritance."

Exodus 34:5-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 34

In this chapter Moses has orders to hew two tables of stone, that God might write on them the ten commands, and bring them up with him to the mount, Ex 34:1-4 where the Lord proclaimed his name, and caused his glory and his goodness to pass before him, Ex 34:5-7 when Moses took this favourable opportunity that offered to pray for the people, that God would forgive their sin, and go along with them, Ex 34:8,9 upon which he made a covenant with them, which on his part was to do wonders for them, and drive out the inhabitants of Canaan before them; and on their part, that they should have no confederacy and communion with these nations, and shun their idolatry, and everything that might lead unto it, Ex 34:10-17 and he repeated several laws before given, and urged the observance of them, which Moses was to acquaint the people with, Ex 34:18-27 and after a stay of forty days and forty nights on the mount, he came down with the two tables of the law; and the skin of his face shone so bright, that the people of Israel were afraid to come nigh him, and therefore he put a vail over his face while he conversed with them, Ex 34:28-35.

Cross References 13

  • 1. Numbers 11:25; [1 Kings 8:10, 11]
  • 2. Exodus 33:19
  • 3. Numbers 14:18; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 111:4; Psalms 112:4; Psalms 116:5; Psalms 145:8; Joel 2:13
  • 4. Exodus 22:27
  • 5. Psalms 57:10; Psalms 108:4
  • 6. Exodus 20:5, 6; Deuteronomy 5:10; Jeremiah 32:18; Daniel 9:4
  • 7. Psalms 103:3; Psalms 130:4; Daniel 9:9; 1 John 1:9
  • 8. Exodus 23:21; Joshua 24:19; Job 10:14; Nahum 1:3
  • 9. Deuteronomy 5:9
  • 10. Exodus 4:31; Exodus 12:27
  • 11. Exodus 33:15, 16
  • 12. See Exodus 32:9
  • 13. Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalms 28:9; Psalms 33:12; Psalms 78:62; Psalms 94:14; Jeremiah 10:16; Zechariah 2:12

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or to the thousandth generation
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.