Exodus 34:35

35 and the Israelites would see that Moses' face^[a] was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went to speak with the Lord.^[b]

Exodus 34:35 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 34:35

And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the
skin of Moses's face shone
That is, not only when he came down from the mount, but whenever he came out of the tabernacle, where he had been inquiring of God, and conversing with him:

and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to
speak with him;
this he did from time to time, when he came out from the Lord he put on his vail, and when he went in again, he put it off. How long this brightness on his countenance remained, cannot be said with any certainty; Saadiah Gaon says, it did not remove from him to the day of his death: hence it is said, "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated", ( Deuteronomy 34:7 ) and Aben Ezra seems to approve of it; and it is the opinion of many great and learned men, that it continued as long as he lived.

Exodus 34:35 In-Context

33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

34 But whenever Moses went before the Lord to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. After he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded,

35 and the Israelites would see that Moses' face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went to speak with the Lord.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit see Moses' face, that the skin of his face
• [b]. 2 Co 3:7