Exodus 33:12-23

Presence and Glory

12 And Moses said to Yahweh, "See, you [are] saying to me, 'Take this people up.' But you have not let me know whom you will send with me, and you yourself have said, 'I know you by name, and you also have found favor in my eyes.'
13 And now if I have found favor in your eyes, make known [to] me, please, your way, and so I may know you so that I can find favor in your eyes. And see that this nation is your people."
14 And he said, "My presence will go, and I will give you rest."
15 And he said to him, "If your presence [is] not going, do not bring us up from here.
16 And by what will it be known then that I have found favor in your eyes, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us? And [so] we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who [are] on the face of the ground."
17 And Yahweh said to Moses, "Also I will do this thing that you have spoken, because you have found favor in my eyes and I have known you by name."
18 And he said, "Please show me your glory."
19 And he said, "I myself will cause all my goodness to pass over before you, and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you, and I will be gracious [to] whom I will be gracious, and I will show compassion [to] whom I will show compassion."
20 But he said, "You are not able to see my face, because [a] human will not see me and live."
21 And Yahweh said, "There is a place with me, and you will stand on the rock.
22 {And} when my glory passes over, I will put you in the rock's crevice, and I will cover you [with] my hand until I pass over.
23 And I will remove my hand, and you will see my back, but my face will not be visible."

Exodus 33:12-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 33

This chapter informs us, that the Lord refusing to go with the people, only sending an angel with them, they are filled with concern, and troubled, Ex 33:1-6. Moses upon this pitched the tabernacle without the camp, where everyone that sought the Lord went; Moses entered into it himself, and the Lord talked to him in a friendly manner in the cloudy pillar that stood at the door of it, and the people worshipped, every man at his own tent door; all which foreboded good, and tended to reconciliation, Ex 33:7-11. Moses improved the opportunity, and entreats the presence of God to go with them, which was granted, Ex 33:12-17 and that he might have a sight of the glory of God; and this is promised to pass before him, he being put into the cleft of the rock, Ex 33:18-23.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "and it will be"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.