Exodus 33:16

16 for how shall it be knowne now that both I and thi people haue founde fauoure in thi sighte, but in that thou goest with us: that both I and thi people haue a preemynence before all the people that are vpon the face of the erth.

Exodus 33:16 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 33:16

For wherein shall it be known here
At Sinai, among the mountains in the wilderness:

that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight:
were acceptable to him, highly esteemed by him, and had received peculiar favours from him; what evidence would there be of this? how would it appear to others? what knowledge could they have of it?

[is it] not in that thou goest with us?
in such a grand majestic manner, and so visible as in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night: this is a full proof, and a strong and convincing argument, even to a demonstration, that they were a special and peculiar people, the favourites of God, highly esteemed and honoured by him; but should this be discontinued, as seemed to be threatened, there would be nothing to demonstrate that they had found more grace and favour than other people; but this being the case,

so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people
[that are] upon the face of the earth;
distinguished by this favour from them, and that in a very wonderful and marvellous manner, as the word signifies; and so some render it, "marvellously separated" ^F1; for the pillar of cloud and fire was a very marvellous thing, and distinguished the people of Israel from all others in a surprising manner, none having been ever favoured in the like manner.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (wnylpn) "marvellously separated", Ainsworth.

Exodus 33:16 In-Context

14 And he sayde: my presence shall goo with the, and I will geue the rest.

15 And he sayde: yf thi presence goo not with me, carye us not hense

16 for how shall it be knowne now that both I and thi people haue founde fauoure in thi sighte, but in that thou goest with us: that both I and thi people haue a preemynence before all the people that are vpon the face of the erth.

17 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moses: I will doo this also that thou hast sayde, for thou hast founde grace in my sighte, and I knowe the by name.

18 And he sayde: I besech the, shewe me thi glorye: