Exode 33:15

15 Et Moïse lui dit: Si ta face ne vient, ne nous fais point monter d'ici.

Exode 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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Exode 33:15 In-Context

13 Maintenant donc, je te prie, si j'ai trouvé grâce à tes yeux, fais-moi connaître tes voies; que je te connaisse, afin que je trouve grâce à tes yeux; considère aussi que cette nation est ton peuple.
14 Et l'Éternel dit: Ma face ira, et je te donnerai du repos.
15 Et Moïse lui dit: Si ta face ne vient, ne nous fais point monter d'ici.
16 Et à quoi connaîtra-t-on que j'ai trouvé grâce à tes yeux, moi et ton peuple? Ne sera-ce pas quand tu marcheras avec nous? Alors, moi et ton peuple, nous serons distingués entre tous les peuples qui sont sur la face de la terre.
17 Et l'Éternel dit à Moïse: Je ferai aussi ce que tu dis; car tu as trouvé grâce à mes yeux, et je te connais par ton nom.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.