Exoduschapter 33

23 verses · Moses, by tradition · 15th or 13th century BC · The Law

In Jewish life

The reading

Weekly portion 21 of 54

כִּי תִשָּׂא Ki Tisa, Exodus 30:11 to 34:35

Read with it: 1 Kings 18:1 to 18:39 in Ashkenazi use, and 1 Kings 18:20 to 18:39 in Sephardi use.

The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →

How it is read

The corpus for this chapter holds Rashi alone, and the version Sefaria carries reports no licence, so his comments stand here as references rather than as quotations. He comments at every verse from the first to the last, at Rashi on Exodus 33:1:1 and 33:1:2 and then once at each verse through Rashi on Exodus 33:23:1. What he says at each place stands at the reference itself. No other classical commentator on this chapter was found in the corpus, so the teaching part of this card names Rashi and stops there. A later fetch under a licence that permits the text will let his reading be quoted here with his work named. That reading covers the tent outside the camp, the face to face speech of the eleventh verse, and the request to see the glory.

What the rabbis say

The corpus records forty places where the Midrash and the Talmud draw on this chapter, cited here by reference. The three requests of Moses in the middle of the chapter are read in Berakhot at 7a:5, 7a:25, 7a:33 and 63b:6. The Ein Yaakov collections carry the same passages at Berakhot 9:18, Ketubot 13:1, Kiddushin 1:36 and Sotah 1:55. Bamidbar Rabbah reads the chapter at 9:48, 12:9, 14:19, 14:20, 16:22 and 16:24. The stripping of the ornaments at the fourth and fifth verses is read at Eikhah Rabbah, Petichta 24 and Bereshit Rabbati, Parashat Vayishlach 49. Midrash Tanchuma Buber reads it at Appendix to Sh'lach 1:1 and at Ki Tisa 15:4, and Midrash Tanchuma at Ki Tisa 27:4. The tent and the pillar of cloud stand at Shemot Rabbah 45:4 and Midrash Sekhel Tov, Bereshit 29:35:3. Megillah 31a:16 and Bava Batra 15a:11 read the prayer of the twelfth and sixteenth verses. Avot DeRabbi Natan reads the seeing of God at 12:5 and 25:1, and Bava Kamma 55a:2 the proclamation of the nineteenth verse.

The text, verse by verse

Each word shows the Hebrew, the English under it, how it sounds and its Strong’s number. A rule between verses marks where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.

Strip Off Your Ornaments

33:1

וַיְדַבֵּ֨רand he spokevaydaberH1696 יְהוָ֤הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁה֙MosesmoshehH4872 לֵ֣ךְgolekhH1980 עֲלֵ֣הgo upʾalehH5927 מִזֶּ֔הfrom heremizehH2088 אַתָּ֣הyouʾatahH859 וְהָעָ֔םand the peoplevehaamH5971 אֲשֶׁ֥רwhichʾasherH834 הֶֽעֱלִ֖יתָyou have brought upheelitaH5927 מֵאֶ֣רֶץfrom [the] land ofmeeretzH776 מִצְרָ֑יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 אֶל־toʾel-H413 הָאָ֗רֶץthe landhaaretzH776 אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichʾasherH834 נִ֠שְׁבַּעְתִּיI sworenishba'tiH7650 לְאַבְרָהָ֨םto AbrahamleavrahamH85 לְיִצְחָ֤קto IsaacleyitzchakH3327 וּֽלְיַעֲקֹב֙and to JacobuleyaakoH3290 לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> sayinglemorH559 לְזַרְעֲךָ֖to offspring yourlezarakhaH2233 אֶתְּנֶֽנָּה׃I will give itʾettenenahH5414

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 33:1

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

DEPART, GO UP HENCE. Scripture reads go up because one who goes towards the left side. That is, goes north.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

33:2

וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֥יand I will sendveshalachtiH7971 לְפָנֶ֖יךָ<to> before youlefaneikhaH6440 מַלְאָ֑ךְan angelmalakhH4397 וְגֵֽרַשְׁתִּ֗יand I will drive outvegerashtiH1644 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙the Canaanite[s]hakenaaniH3669 הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔יthe Amorite[s]haemoriH567 וְהַֽחִתִּי֙and the Hittite[s]vehachitiH2850 וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יand the Perizzite[s]vehapperiziH6522 הַחִוִּ֖יthe Hivite[s]hachiviH2340 וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃and the Jebusite[s]vehayvusiH2983

33:3

אֶל־toʾel-H413 אֶ֛רֶץa landʾeretzH776 זָבַ֥תflowing ofzavatH2100 חָלָ֖בmilkchalavH2461 וּדְבָ֑שׁand honeyudevashH1706 כִּי֩forkiH3588 לֹ֨אnotlo'H3808 אֶֽעֱלֶ֜הI will go upʾeelehH5927 בְּקִרְבְּךָ֗in midst yourbekirbechaH7130 כִּ֤יforkiH3588 עַם־[are] a peopleʾam-H5971 קְשֵׁה־stiff ofkesheh-H7186 עֹ֙רֶף֙neckʾorefH6203 אַ֔תָּהyouʾatahH859 פֶּן־lestpen-H6435 אֲכֶלְךָ֖I should make an end of youʾakhelkhaH3615 בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃on the journeybadarekhH1870

33:4

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣עand it heardvaiyishma'H8085 הָעָ֗םthe peoplehaamH5971 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הַדָּבָ֥רthe wordhadavarH1697 הָרָ֛ע<the> badhara'H7451 הַזֶּ֖ה<the> thishazehH2088 וַיִּתְאַבָּ֑לוּand they mournedvaiyitabaluH56 וְלֹא־and notvelo'-H3808 שָׁ֛תוּthey placedshatuH7896 אִ֥ישׁanyoneʾishH376 עֶדְי֖וֹornament[s] hisedyoH5716 עָלָֽיו׃on himselfʾalavH5921

33:5

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he had saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָ֜הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֗הMosesmoshehH4872 אֱמֹ֤רsayʾemorH559 אֶל־toʾel-H413 בְּנֵֽי־[the] people ofbenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵל֙IsraelyisraelH3478 אַתֶּ֣םyouʾatemH859 עַם־[are] a peopleʾam-H5971 קְשֵׁה־stiff ofkesheh-H7186 עֹ֔רֶףneckʾorefH6203 רֶ֧גַעa momentrega'H7281 אֶחָ֛דoneʾechadH259 אֶֽעֱלֶ֥הI will go upʾeelehH5927 בְקִרְבְּךָ֖in midst yourvekirbechaH7130 וְכִלִּיתִ֑יךָand I will make an end of youvekhilitikhaH3615 וְעַתָּ֗הand thereforeveatahH6258 הוֹרֵ֤דtake downhoredH3381 עֶדְיְךָ֙ornament[s] yourʾedyekhaH5716 מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָfrom on <the> yourselfmealeikhaH5921 וְאֵדְעָ֖הso let me considerveedeahH3045 מָ֥הwhat?mahH4100 אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־will I doʾeeseh-H6213לָּֽךְ׃to <the> youlakh

33:6

וַיִּֽתְנַצְּל֧וּand they stripped themselvesvaiyitnatzeluH5337 בְנֵֽי־[the] people ofvenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לIsraelyisraelH3478 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 עֶדְיָ֖םornament[s] theirʾedyamH5716 מֵהַ֥רfrom [the] mountain ofmeharH2022 חוֹרֵֽב׃HorebchorevH2722

The Tent Outside the Camp

33:7

וּמֹשֶׁה֩and MosesumoshehH4872 יִקַּ֨חhe tookyikachH3947 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הָאֹ֜הֶלthe tenthaohelH168 וְנָֽטָה־and he pitchedvenatah-H5186ל֣וֹ׀<to> <the> itloמִח֣וּץfrom [the] outsidemichutzH2351 לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗הof the camplamachanehH4264 הַרְחֵק֙at a distanceharchekH7368 מִן־frommin-H4480 הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הthe camphamachanehH4264 וְקָ֥רָאand he calledvekara'H7121ל֖וֹ<to> <the> itloאֹ֣הֶל[the] tent ofʾohelH168 מוֹעֵ֑דmeetingmoedH4150 וְהָיָה֙and it wasvehayahH1961 כָּל־anykol-H3605 מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ[one who] soughtmevakeshH1245 יְהוָ֔הYahwehyahwehH3068 יֵצֵא֙he went outyetze'H3318 אֶל־toʾel-H413 אֹ֣הֶל[the] tent ofʾohelH168 מוֹעֵ֔דmeetingmoedH4150 אֲשֶׁ֖רwhichʾasherH834 מִח֥וּץ[was] from [the] outsidemichutzH2351 לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃of the camplamachanehH4264

33:8

וְהָיָ֗הand it wasvehayahH1961 כְּצֵ֤אתwhen went outketzetH3318 מֹשֶׁה֙MosesmoshehH4872 אֶל־toʾel-H413 הָאֹ֔הֶלthe tenthaohelH168 יָק֙וּמוּ֙they aroseyakumuH6965 כָּל־allkol-H3605 הָעָ֔םthe peoplehaamH5971 וְנִ֨צְּב֔וּand they stoodvenitzevuH5324 אִ֖ישׁeveryoneʾishH376 פֶּ֣תַח[the] opening ofpetachH6607 אָהֳל֑וֹtent hisʾoholoH168 וְהִבִּ֙יטוּ֙and they lookedvehibituH5027 אַחֲרֵ֣יafterʾachareiH310 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 עַד־untilʾad-H5704 בֹּא֖וֹwent hebooH935 הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃the tent towardshaohelahH168

33:9

וְהָיָ֗הand it wasvehayahH1961 כְּבֹ֤אwhen wentkevo'H935 מֹשֶׁה֙MosesmoshehH4872 הָאֹ֔הֱלָהthe tent towardshaohelahH168 יֵרֵד֙it came downyeredH3381 עַמּ֣וּד[the] pillar ofʾamudH5982 הֶֽעָנָ֔ן<the> cloudheananH6051 וְעָמַ֖דand it stoodveamadH5975 פֶּ֣תַח[the] opening ofpetachH6607 הָאֹ֑הֶלthe tenthaohelH168 וְדִבֶּ֖רand he spokevediberH1696 עִם־withʾim-H5973 מֹשֶֽׁה׃MosesmoshehH4872

33:10

וְרָאָ֤הand it sawveraahH7200 כָל־allkhol-H3605 הָעָם֙the peoplehaamH5971 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 עַמּ֣וּד[the] pillar ofʾamudH5982 הֶֽעָנָ֔ן<the> cloudheananH6051 עֹמֵ֖דstandingʾomedH5975 פֶּ֣תַח[the] opening ofpetachH6607 הָאֹ֑הֶלthe tenthaohelH168 וְקָ֤םand it arosevekamH6965 כָּל־allkol-H3605 הָעָם֙the peoplehaamH5971 וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוּ֔וּand they bowed downvehishtachavuH7812 אִ֖ישׁeveryoneʾishH376 פֶּ֥תַח[the] opening ofpetachH6607 אָהֳלֽוֹ׃tent hisʾoholoH168

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 33:10

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

This took place after what is reported in the section beginning with the words, See, Thou sayest unto me (v.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

33:11

וְדִבֶּ֨רand he spokevediberH1696 יְהוָ֤הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁה֙MosesmoshehH4872 פָּנִ֣יםfacepanimH6440 אֶל־toʾel-H413 פָּנִ֔יםfacepanimH6440 כַּאֲשֶׁ֛רjust askaasherH834 יְדַבֵּ֥רhe speaksyedaberH1696 אִ֖ישׁa personʾishH376 אֶל־toʾel-H413 רֵעֵ֑הוּcompanion hisreehuH7453 וְשָׁב֙and he returnedveshavH7725 אֶל־toʾel-H413 הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הthe camphamachanehH4264 וּמְשָׁ֨רְת֜וֹand servant hisumesharetoH8334 יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַJoshuayehoshua'H3091 בִּן־[the] son ofbin-H1121 נוּן֙NunnunH5126 נַ֔עַרa young mannaarH5288 לֹ֥אnotlo'H3808 יָמִ֖ישׁhe departedyamishH4185 מִתּ֥וֹךְfrom [the] midst ofmitokhH8432 הָאֹֽהֶל׃the tenthaohelH168

My Presence Shall Go With You

33:12

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 מֹשֶׁ֜הMosesmoshehH4872 אֶל־toʾel-H413 יְהוָ֗הYahwehyahwehH3068 רְ֠אֵהseereehH7200 אַתָּ֞הyouʾatahH859 אֹמֵ֤ר[are] sayingʾomerH559 אֵלַי֙to meʾelaiH413 הַ֚עַלbring uphaalH5927 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הָעָ֣םthe peoplehaamH5971 הַזֶּ֔ה<the> thishazehH2088 וְאַתָּה֙and youveatahH859 לֹ֣אnotlo'H3808 הֽוֹדַעְתַּ֔נִיyou have made know mehoda'taniH3045 אֵ֥ת<obj.>ʾetH853 אֲשֶׁר־whomʾasher-H834 תִּשְׁלַ֖חyou will sendtishlachH7971 עִמִּ֑יwith meʾimiH5973 וְאַתָּ֤הand youveatahH859 אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙you have saidʾamartaH559 יְדַעְתִּ֣יךָֽI know youyeda'tikhaH3045 בְשֵׁ֔םby nameveshemH8034 וְגַם־and alsovegam-H1571 מָצָ֥אתָyou have foundmatzataH4672 חֵ֖ןfavorchenH2580 בְּעֵינָֽי׃in view mybeeinaiH5869

Ramban on Exodus 33:12

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

‘SEE, THOU SAYEST UNTO ME: BRING UP THIS PEOPLE.’ This happened on Mount Sinai, when Moses went up there on the nineteenth of Tammuz.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

33:13

וְעַתָּ֡הand thereforeveatahH6258 אִם־ifʾim-H518 נָא֩pleasena'H4994 מָצָ֨אתִיI have foundmatzatiH4672 חֵ֜ןfavorchenH2580 בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָin view yourbeeineikhaH5869 הוֹדִעֵ֤נִיshow mehodieniH3045 נָא֙pleasena'H4994 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 דְּרָכֶ֔ךָways yourderakhekhaH1870 וְאֵדָ֣עֲךָ֔so I may know youveedaakhaH3045 לְמַ֥עַןso thatlemaanH4616 אֶמְצָא־I may findʾemtza'-H4672 חֵ֖ןfavorchenH2580 בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָin view yourbeeineikhaH5869 וּרְאֵ֕הand considerureehH7200 כִּ֥יthatkiH3588 עַמְּךָ֖[is] people yourʾamekhaH5971 הַגּ֥וֹיthe nationhagoyH1471 הַזֶּֽה׃<the> thishazehH2088

33:14

וַיֹּאמַ֑רand he saidvaiyomarH559 פָּנַ֥יpresence mypanaiH6440 יֵלֵ֖כוּthey will goyelekhuH1980 וַהֲנִחֹ֥תִיand I will give restvahanichotiH5117לָֽךְ׃to <the> youlakh

Ramban on Exodus 33:14

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

In the opinion of all commentators this means, “I myself will go.” And they brought a parallel expression to this from the verse, ‘upanecha’ (and thine own person) shalt go to battle. 478 II Samuel:11.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976