Exodus 34ESV
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Exodus34

English Standard Version

1The Lord to , for yourself of like the , and I will the the were on the , you .

2Be by the , and in the to , and yourself to me on the of the .

3 shall with you, let be throughout the . or that .

4So of like the . And he rose in the and on , as the Lord had him, and in his of .

5The Lord in the and with him , and the of the Lord.

6The Lord him and , The Lord, the Lord, a and , to , and in and ,

7 for , and and , but who will by clear the , the of the the and the children, the the generation.

8And bowed his toward the and .

9And he , now I have in your , O , let the in the of us, for it is a , and our and our , and take us for your .

10And he , , I am a . your I will , such have been in the or in . And the you are shall the of the Lord, it is an that I will with you.

11 I you this . , I will you the , the , the , the , the , and the .

12 , you a with the of the to you , it become a in your .

13You shall their and their and their

14( you shall , for the Lord, whose is , is a ),

15 you a with the of the , and when they their and to their and you are , you of his ,

16and you of their for your , and their their and your their .

17You shall for yourself any of .

18You shall the of . you shall , I you, at the in the , in the you .

19 that the are mine, your , the of and .

20The of a you shall with a , or you will it you shall break its . the of your you shall . And shall me .

21 you shall , but on the you shall . In and in you shall .

22You shall the of , the of , and the of at the .

23 in the shall your the Lord God God, the of .

24For I will cast you and your ; shall your , when you to the Lord your in the .

25You shall the of my with anything , let the of the of the until the .

26The of the of your you shall to the of the Lord your . You shall a in its .

27And the Lord to , , with I have a with you and with .

28So he was with the Lord and . He . And he the the of the , the .

29When , with the of the as he came the , did the of his because he had been with God.

30 and the of , and , the of his , and they were to come him.

31But to them, and and the of the to him, and with them.

32 the of came , and he them the Lord had with him in .

33And when had with them, he a his .

34Whenever the Lord to with him, he would the , he . And when he and the of he was ,

35the of would the of , the of was . And would the his , he to with him.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 34.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The tables of the law renewed. (1–4). The name of the Lord proclaimed, The entreaty of Moses. (5–9). God's covenant. (10–17). The festivals. (18–27). The vail of Moses. (28–35).

vv1-4

When God made man in his own image, the moral law was written in his heart, by the finger of God, without outward means. But since the covenant then made with man was broken, the Lord has used the ministry of men, both in writing the law in the Scriptures, and in writing it in the heart. When God was reconciled to the Israelites, he ordered the tables to be renewed, and wrote his law in them. Even under the gospel of peace by Christ, the moral law continues to bind believers. Though Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, yet not from the commands of it. The first and the best evidence of the pardon of sin, and peace with God, is the writing the law in the heart.

vv5-9

The Lord descended by some open token of his presence and manifestation of his glory in a cloud, and thence proclaimed his NAME; that is, the perfections and character which are denoted by the name JEHOVAH. The Lord God is merciful; ready to forgive the sinner, and to relieve the needy. Gracious; kind, and ready to bestow undeserved benefits. Long-suffering; slow to anger, giving time for repentance, only punishing when it is needful. He is abundant in goodness and truth; even sinners receive the riches of his bounty abundantly, though they abuse them. All he reveals is infallible truth, all he promises is in faithfulness. Keeping mercy for thousands; he continually shows mercy to sinners, and has treasures, which cannot be exhausted, to the end of time. Forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin; his mercy and goodness reach to the full and free forgiveness of sin. And will by no means clear the guilty; the holiness and justice of God are part of his goodness and love towards all his creatures. In Christ's sufferings, the Divine holiness and justice are fully shown, and the evil of sin is made known. God's forgiving mercy is always attended by his converting, sanctifying grace. None are pardoned but those who repent and forsake the allowed practice of every sin; nor shall any escape, who abuse, neglect, or despise this great salvation. Moses bowed down, and worshipped reverently. Every perfection in the name of God, the believer may plead with Him for the forgiveness of his sins, the making holy of his heart, and the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom.

vv10-17

The Israelites are commanded to destroy every monument of idolatry, however curious or costly; to refuse all alliance, friendship, or marriage with idolaters, and all idolatrous feasts; and they were reminded not with idolaters, and all idolatrous feats; and they were reminded not to repeat the crime of making molten images. Jealously is called the rage of a man, Pr 6:34; but in God it is holy and just displeasure. Those cannot worship God aright, who do not worship him only.

Cross References

Exodus 34

Moses is commanded to hew two new tables of stone like the first, parallel to Deuteronomy 10:1.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

Paul refers to the glory of Moses' shining face as the glory of the passing dispensation.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Paul explains that Moses put a veil over his face so Israel could not look to the end.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Paul contrasts the glory of the ministration of death written on stones with the Gospel's glory.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v5Numbers 14:17thematic

Moses appeals directly to this proclamation of the Name of the Lord for pardoning Israel.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Numbers 14:18thematic

Direct parallel reciting God's attributes of mercy, forgiveness, and visiting iniquity.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v14Exodus 20:3-5thematic

Repeats the Second Commandment prohibition of idolatry and the description of God's holy jealousy.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v28Deuteronomy 9:18thematic

Moses recalls his second forty-day fast of intercession for Israel's sin.

Supported by JFB

v28Deuteronomy 10:4thematic

Confirms that God wrote the Ten Commandments on the second set of stone tables.

Supported by JFB

When Moses went in before the Lord, he took the veil off, typifying turning to the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v5Exodus 33:19thematic

Fulfillment of God's promise to make His goodness pass before Moses and proclaim His Name.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v12Deuteronomy 7:2thematic

Prohibition of making covenants with Canaan's inhabitants to prevent them from becoming a snare.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v13Exodus 23:24thematic

Command to completely overthrow idolatrous altars and shatter their sacred pillars/groves.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v16Deuteronomy 7:3thematic

Express prohibition against intermarrying with the Canaanites, lest they turn Israel to false gods.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v19Exodus 13:2thematic

Direct reference to God's law sanctifying all the firstborn males and firstlings to Himself.

Supported by John Calvin

v20Exodus 13:13thematic

Specific instruction on redeeming the firstling of an ass with a lamb, or breaking its neck.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v25Deuteronomy 16:3thematic

Commands unleavened bread with the Passover sacrifice as the memorial bread of affliction.

Supported by John Calvin

v26Exodus 23:19thematic

Identical covenant mandate regarding firstfruits and the prohibition against seething a kid in its mother's milk.

Repeats the prohibition against boiling a young goat in its mother's milk.

v3Exodus 19:12thematic

Repetition of strict boundaries set around Sinai to preserve holiness and prevent unauthorized approach.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v6Psalms 86:15thematic

Echoes the identical confession of God as full of compassion, gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Exodus 33:14-16thematic

Moses pleads for God's presence to go among them, following up the previous chapter's dialogue.

Supported by JFB

Confirms the command that none shall appear before the Lord empty at the three feasts.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v23Exodus 23:17thematic

Parallel command requiring all males to appear before the Lord three times a year.

Reiterates the three annual national pilgrim feasts for all Hebrew males.

v25Exodus 23:18thematic

Parallel prohibition against offering sacrifice with leaven or leaving Passover fat until morning.

v29Matthew 17:2typology

Jesus' face shines like the sun at His Transfiguration, fulfilling and surpassing Moses' reflected glory.

v28Exodus 24:18thematic

Compares this forty-day period on the mount with Moses' first forty-day stay.