Exodus 33:15

15 And Moses said, If thou thyself shalt not go before us, lead thou not us out of this place; (And Moses said, If thou shalt not go before us, then do not thou lead us out of this place;)

Exodus 33:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 33:15

And he said unto him
Moses said unto the Lord:

if thy presence go not [with me];
or with us, as it may be as well supplied, and which agrees with what follows:

carry us not up hence;
from the mount to the land of Canaan; though God had promised his presence, which was the thing requested, Moses could not forbear expressing himself after this manner, to show the high esteem he had of this blessing, and how worthless and insignificant everything else was without it; that even Canaan, the land of rest promised, was nothing in comparison of it: it is not much matter where we are, or what we have, if God is not with us; but if he grants his presence, the greatest hardships in a wilderness are made easy, and difficulties are got through with pleasure; though some read the words in the preceding verse by way of interrogation, "should my face" or "presence go", and "should it give thee rest" ^F26? as carrying in it a kind of denial, which makes Moses here more urgent for it, and such a version those words seem to require.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 "An facies mea iret et quietem daret tibi?" Noldius, p. 243. so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Exodus 33:15 In-Context

13 Therefore if I have found grace in thy sight, show thy face to me, that I know thee, and find grace before thine eyes; behold thy people, and this folk. (And so, if I have found grace before thee, show thy face to me, so that I can know thee, and continue to find grace before thee; and remember, Lord, that this nation is thy people.)

14 And God said, My face shall go before thee, and I shall give rest to thee.

15 And Moses said, If thou thyself shalt not go before us, lead thou not us out of this place; (And Moses said, If thou shalt not go before us, then do not thou lead us out of this place;)

16 for in what thing may we know, I and thy people, that we have found grace in thy sight, if thou shalt not go with us (unless thou shalt go with us), (and) that we be glorified (out) of all (the) peoples that dwell on [the] earth?

17 Forsooth the Lord said to Moses, I shall do also this word, that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace before me, and I know thyself by name. (And the Lord said to Moses, I shall do what thou hast asked; for thou hast found grace before me, and I know thee by name.)