Exodus 34:6-7

6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ¹"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and ²gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast ³love and faithfulness,

7 ⁴keeping steadfast love for thousands,^[a]5forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but ⁶who will by no means clear the guilty, ⁷visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."

Exodus 34:6-7 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

• 1. 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
• 2. Exodus 22:27
• 3. Psalms 57:10; Psalms 108:4
• 4. Exodus 20:5, 6; Deuteronomy 5:10; Jeremiah 32:18; Daniel 9:4
• 5. Psalms 103:3; Psalms 130:4; Daniel 9:9; 1 John 1:9
• 6. Exodus 23:21; Joshua 24:19; Job 10:14; Nahum 1:3
• 7. Deuteronomy 5:9

Footnotes

• [a]. Or to the thousandth generation