Exodus 33

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 33

1¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, [and] go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:

2And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

3Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou [art] a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.

4And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.

5For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye [are] a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

6And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

7¶ And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, [that] every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which [was] without the camp.

8And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, [that] all the people rose up, and stood every man [at] his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

9And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood [at] the door of the tabernacle, and [the LORD] talked with Moses.

10And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand [at] the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man [in] his tent door.

11And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

12¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

13Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation [is] thy people.

14And he said, My presence shall go [with thee], and I will give thee rest.

15And he said unto him, If thy presence go not [with me], carry us not up hence.

16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? [is it] not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that [are] upon the face of the earth.

17And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

18And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

19And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

20And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

21And the LORD said, Behold, [there is] a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

22And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

23And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

In Exodus 33, the LORD commands Moses and Israel to depart for the promised land, but declares He will not go among them due to their stiffneckedness, lest He consume them. The people mourn this news, removing their ornaments. Moses then moves the Tabernacle of the congregation outside the camp, where the LORD speaks with him face to face, as a friend.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with the LORD instructing Moses to lead Israel to the promised land, but states He will send an angel before them, not His own presence, because of their rebellious nature. Hearing these "evil tidings," the people grieve and strip themselves of their ornaments. Moses subsequently moves the Tabernacle of the congregation outside the camp, where the cloudy pillar descends, signifying the LORD's presence. There, the LORD speaks with Moses "face to face," like a man speaks to his friend. Moses intercedes, pleading for the LORD's presence to accompany them, arguing that it is the sign of their separation and grace. The LORD assents, promising His presence will go with them, and Moses then requests to see the LORD's glory, which is granted with limitations.

Long Summary

Exodus 33 opens with the LORD commanding Moses to lead the Israelites from Sinai to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, due to Israel's "stiffnecked" nature, the LORD declares He will send an angel to drive out the inhabitants but will not go up in their midst, lest He consume them on the way. Upon hearing this dire news, the people mourn and remove their ornaments as a sign of repentance and sorrow. The LORD reiterates His warning, prompting the Israelites to strip themselves of their adornments by Mount Horeb. Moses then takes the Tabernacle of the congregation and pitches it outside the camp, afar off, making it a place where those who sought the LORD could go. When Moses entered the Tabernacle, the cloudy pillar would descend, and the LORD would speak with him "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." Moses then boldly intercedes for the people, reminding the LORD that they are His nation and pleading for His presence to accompany them, stating that without it, their unique status among nations would not be evident. The LORD responds favorably to Moses' plea, affirming that He knows Moses by name and has found grace in His sight, promising to do as Moses has spoken. Emboldened, Moses then requests to see the LORD's glory. The LORD agrees to make all His goodness pass before Moses and proclaim His name, but states that Moses cannot see His face and live. Instead, the LORD instructs Moses to stand on a rock, where He will place him in a cleft and cover him with His hand as His glory passes by, allowing Moses to see His "back parts" but not His face.

Core Concepts

  • Stiffnecked PeopleThis term is used by the LORD to describe the rebellious and stubborn nature of the children of Israel, which initially causes Him to declare He will not go up in their midst.
  • Divine Presence WithdrawnInitially, the LORD declares He will not accompany Israel directly to the promised land, sending only an angel, as a consequence of their sin and to prevent their consumption.
  • Tabernacle of the CongregationMoses moves this tent outside the camp, establishing it as a distinct place where anyone seeking the LORD could go, and where the LORD would uniquely communicate with Moses.
  • Face-to-Face CommunionExodus 33 describes the unique and intimate way the LORD spoke with Moses, "as a man speaketh unto his friend," signifying a profound and direct relationship.
  • Moses' IntercessionMoses plays a crucial role as an intercessor, pleading with the LORD to reconsider His decision and to continue His presence with the Israelites, emphasizing their status as God's people.
  • Revelation of God's GloryAt Moses' request, the LORD agrees to reveal His goodness and proclaim His name, but limits the full vision of His face, allowing Moses to see only His "back parts" as He passes by.
  • God's Sovereignty in MercyThe LORD declares, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy," highlighting His absolute prerogative in extending favor and compassion.