Exodus33
New International Version
1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
2I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
3Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
4When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.
5For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’”
6So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.
7Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.
8And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.
9As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.
10Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.
11The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
12Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’
13If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
14The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
16How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
18Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
19And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
21Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.
22When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
23Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
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