Exodus 33:23

23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

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Exodus 33:23 in Other Translations

KJV

23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

ESV

23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."

NLT

23 Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”

MSG

23 Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back. But you won't see my face."

CSB

23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen."

Exodus 33:23 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 33:23

And I will take away mine hand
As being covered with the hand may signify the obscurity of the former dispensation, the taking of it away may denote a more clear revelation of the grace and goodness of God in Christ, and so of the glory of it under the Gospel dispensation; and yet what is seen in this, in comparison of the reality of things as they are, or of the heavenly state, are but as next expressed:

and thou shalt see my back parts;
which some understand of the humanity of Christ, and his sufferings in it, sometimes expressed by his heel, and the bruising of it, ( Genesis 3:15 ) or else the works of God in creation, by which the invisible things of God are seen, and which give a knowledge of him "a posteriori"; and so Maimonides ^F4 interprets the phrase, which follow me, flow from my will, i.e. all my creatures: or rather it denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state, even as revealed in Christ, in whom there are the clearest and brightest displays of his glory; yet this, in comparison of the beatific sight of him, is but like seeing a man that is gone by, whose back is only to be seen:

but my face shall not be seen;
in the present state, the face of God, that is, his favour, communion with him, and the light of his countenance, are to be sought for, and may be enjoyed; the glory of himself is to be seen in the face or person of Christ, and the glory of that face or person is to be seen in the glass of the Gospel, but at present imperfectly; God in Christ as he is, the fullest and brightest displays of his glory, grace, and goodness, are reserved to another state, see ( 1 Corinthians 13:9 1 Corinthians 13:12 ) ( 1 John 3:2 ) or it may regard the divine nature of Christ, which could not be seen by Moses, but his back parts, or human; Christ as clothed with flesh might, and would be seen by him, as he was seen by him on the mount, ( Matthew 17:3 ) .

FOOTNOTES:

F4 Moreh Nevochim, par. 1. c. 38.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible