Exodus 34:5-9

5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD.
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.
9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”

Exodus 34:5-9 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 15

  • 1. S Exodus 13:21; S Exodus 19:9
  • 2. Exodus 6:3; Exodus 33:19
  • 3. S Exodus 22:27; S Numbers 14:20; S Psalms 86:15
  • 4. Numbers 14:18; Psalms 78:38; Jeremiah 15:15; Romans 2:4
  • 5. S Genesis 19:16; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 103:8; Joel 2:13
  • 6. Psalms 61:7; Psalms 108:4; Psalms 115:1; Psalms 138:2; Psalms 143:1; Lamentations 3:23; James 5:11
  • 7. S Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10
  • 8. 1 Kings 8:30; Psalms 86:5; Psalms 103:3; Psalms 130:4,8; Isaiah 43:25; Daniel 9:9; 1 John 1:9
  • 9. Exodus 23:7; Joshua 24:19; Job 7:20-21; Job 9:28; Job 10:14; Micah 6:1-16; Nahum 1:3
  • 10. S Exodus 20:5
  • 11. Exodus 33:13; Numbers 11:15
  • 12. S Exodus 33:15
  • 13. Exodus 32:9
  • 14. Numbers 14:19; 1 Kings 8:30; 2 Chronicles 6:21; Psalms 19:12; Psalms 25:11; Jeremiah 33:8; Hosea 14:2
  • 15. S Exodus 6:7; Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 9:26,29; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18; Deuteronomy 32:9; 1 Samuel 10:1; 2 Samuel 14:16; 1 Kings 8:51,53; Psalms 28:9; Psalms 33:12; Psalms 74:2; Psalms 79:1; Psalms 94:14; Psalms 106:5,40; Isaiah 19:25; Isaiah 63:17; Jeremiah 10:16; Jeremiah 51:19; Micah 7:18; Zechariah 2:12
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