Exodus33
English Standard Version
1The Lord to , ; , you and the you have out the of , to the of I to , , and , , To your I will it.
2I will an you, and I will the , the , the , the , the , and the .
3Go up to a with and ; I will you, I you on the , you are a .
4When the , they , and his .
5For the Lord had to , to the of , You are a ; if for a I should you, I would you. So your , that I may to with you.
6Therefore the of themselves of their , onward.
7Now used to the and it the , the , and he it the of . And who the Lord would to the of , was the .
8Whenever to the , the would rise , and would at his , and until he had gone the .
9When the , the of would and at the of the , and the Lord would with .
10And when the the of at the of the , the would rise and , at his .
11Thus the Lord used to to to , as a to his . When Moses into the , his the of , a , would the .
12 to the Lord, , you to me, Bring , but you have let me you will with me. Yet you have , I you by , and you have in my .
13 therefore, I have in your , me now your , that I may you in in your . too is your .
14And he , My will with you, and I will give you .
15And he to him, your will with me, do bring us .
16 shall it be I have in your , I and your ? Is it in your with us, so that we are , I and your , other on the of the ?
17 the Lord to , very you have I will , you have in my , and I you by .
18Moses , me your .
19And he , I will my and will my The Lord. And I will be to I will be , and will on I will .
20But, he , you my , shall me and .
21And the Lord , , there is a by me where you shall on the ,
22and while my I will you in a of the , and I will you with my I have .
23Then I will take my , and you shall my , but my shall be .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 33.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Lord refuses to go with Israel. (1–6). The tabernacle of Moses removed without the camp. (7–11). Moses desires to see the glory of God. (12–23).
vv1-6
Those whom God pardons, must be made to know what their sin deserved. “Let them go forward as they are;” this was very expressive of God's displeasure. Though he promises to make good his covenant with Abraham, in giving them Canaan, yet he denies them the tokens of his presence they had been blessed with. The people mourned for their sin. Of all the bitter fruits and consequences of sin, true penitents most lament, and dread most, God's departure from them. Canaan itself would be no pleasant land without the Lord's presence. Those who parted with ornaments to maintain sin, could do no less than lay aside ornaments, in token of sorrow and shame for it.
vv7-11
Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp. This seems to have been a temporary building, set up for worship, and at which he judged disputes among the people. The people looked after him; they were very desirous to be at peace with God, and concerned to know what would come to pass. The cloudy pillar which had withdrawn from the camp when it was polluted with idolatry, now returned. If our hearts go forth toward God to meet him, he will graciously come to meet us.
vv12-23
Moses is very earnest with God. Thus, by the intercession of Christ, we are not only saved from ruin, but become entitled to everlasting happiness. Observe here how he pleads. We find grace in God's sight, if we find grace in our hearts to guide and quicken us in the way of our duty. Moses speaks as one who dreaded the thought of going forward without the Lord's presence. God's gracious promises, and mercy towards us, should not only encourage our faith, but also excite our fervency in prayer. Observe how he speeds. See, in a type, Christ's intercession, which he ever lives to make for all that come to God by him; and that it is not by any thing in those for whom he intercedes. Moses then entreats a sight of God's glory, and is heard in that also. A full discovery of the glory of God, would overwhelm even Moses himself. Man is mean, and unworthy of it; weak, and could not bear it; guilty, and could not but dread it. The merciful display which is made in Christ Jesus, alone can be borne by us. The Lord granted that which would abundantly satisfy. God's goodness is his glory; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy, more than by the glory of his majesty. Upon the rock there was a fit place for Moses to view the goodness and glory of God. The rock in Horeb was typical of Christ the Rock; the Rock of refuge, salvation, and strength. Happy are they who stand upon this Rock. The cleft may be an emblem of Christ, as smitten, crucified, wounded, and slain. What follows, denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state, even as revealed in Christ; for this, when compared with the heavenly sight of him. is but like seeing a man that is gone by, whose back only is to be seen. God in Christ, as he is, even the fullest and brightest displays of his glory, grace, and goodness, are reserved to another state.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מִצְרַיִם: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
Cross References
Exodus 33Paul quotes verse 19 verbatim to demonstrate God's absolute sovereignty in election and mercy.
Supported by John Calvin
Directly explains why God's face cannot be seen: no man can see Him and live.
Directly recalls this chapter's key description of Moses' unique privilege of speaking to God 'face to face'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels God's intimate, direct communication with Moses, contrasting it with ordinary prophetic dreams.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the spiritual Rock as Christ, in whom believers are securely placed.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Affirms that no man has seen God's essence; He is revealed only in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Typologically links going 'without the camp' to find God's tabernacle with believers going out to Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Moses immediately utilizes God's revealed grace to intercede further for the stiffnecked nation.
Clarifies the impossibility of seeing God's essence, fully revealed only in the incarnate Son.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel revelation of God's presence passing by Elijah on Mount Horeb.
Elijah wraps his face in his mantle as the Lord passes by, shielding his sight.
Contrasts our present, limited, 'back parts' knowledge of God with future 'face to face' sight.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms God dwells in unapproachable light, whom no human eye has seen or can see.
Parallels Moses' description as God's friend with Abraham's title, signifying deep covenant intimacy.
Refers historically to God's presence ('the angel of his presence') leading and saving Israel.
Echoes Moses' plea that God's presence is what separates Israel from all other nations.
Portrays God as the protecting Rock of refuge, salvation, and strength.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Points to Christ as the ultimate mediator in whom God displays His merciful presence.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Highlights that we only see the mere 'outer fringes' of God's ways.
Provides the immediate literary context of God ordering Moses to lead the people after the golden calf.
Supported by JFB