Exodus 33:18

18 And Moses said, Lord, show thou thy glory to me.

Exodus 33:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 33:18

And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.
] Not any visible lustre, splendour, and brightness, as a symbol of the divine Presence, that he had seen, ( Exodus 16:7 Exodus 16:10 ) nor the glorious essence of God, as Maimonides ^F2, which is invisible and cannot be seen, and of which Moses could not be ignorant; nor the glory of the heavenly state, which also he must know he could not see until he came thither; but he seems to mean some visible glorious representation of God, such as he had never seen, though he had been with him so long on the mount in the cloud, and heard his voice, and saw some appearances of brightness and glory, yet not in any form that he could frame any idea of; perhaps he may mean the Angel of God's presence, called his face, the promised Messiah and glorious Redeemer and Saviour, in whom there is such a bright display of the glory of the divine perfections; yea, is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person; and this favour was granted him, with some proper limitations and restrictions; for though this request was, no doubt, sincere and upright, it might be attended with frailty and weakness; yet it is not utterly denied, but with some explanation is allowed, and perhaps was the highest favour ever granted to any before the incarnation of our Lord, at least in so full and glorious a manner as this was; Moses having by his suit obtained much, wants more and is emboldened to ask it, and in a good measure had it, as the following words show.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Yesude Hatorah, c. 1. sect. 10.

Exodus 33:18 In-Context

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.)

18 And Moses said, Lord, show thou thy glory to me.

19 God answered, I shall show all (my) good(ness) to thee, and I shall call in the name of the Lord before thee, and I shall do mercy to whom I will, and I shall be merciful, either goodly, on whom it pleaseth me. (God answered, I shall show all my goodness to thee, and I shall declare the name of the Lord before thee, and I shall do mercy to whom I will, and I shall be merciful, or forgiving, to whom it pleaseth me.)

20 And again God said, Thou mayest not see my face, for a man shall not see me, and live. (And then God said, But thou cannot see my face, for no one can see me, and live.)