Exodus 33:23 BSB — MannaFest

Exodus 33:23

Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

KJV

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

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Commentary

4 voices

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS 3.15 (253)

Like to these is the saying of God to Moses: "Lo, I have set you in a cleft of the rock, and you shall see my back parts." That rock which is Christ is therefore not completely closed but has clefts. But the cleft of the rock is he who reveals God to men and makes him known to them; for "no one knows the Father, save the Son."

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Now Moses was allowed to see only the back-parts; but long afterwards, when he was a witness to Christ's transfiguration, he saw his face shine as the sun. If we faithfully improve the discoveries God gives us of himself while we are here, a brighter and more glorious scene will shortly be opened to us; for to him that hath shall be given.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Long before this, Jacob had spoken of it with wonder that he had seen God face to face, and yet his life was preserved, Gen. xxxii. Sinful man dreads the sight of God his Judge; but holy souls, being by the Spirit of the Lord changed into the same image, behold with open face the glory of the Lord.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

I beseech thee, show me thy glory--This is one of the most mysterious scenes described in the Bible: he had, for his comfort and encouragement, a splendid and full display of the divine majesty, not in its unveiled effulgence, but as far as the weakness of humanity would admit. The face, hand, back parts, are to be understood figuratively.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

9 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙	va.ha.si.ro.Ti	and I will remove	H5493 →
אֶת־	'et-	<obj.>	H853 →
כַּפִּ֔י	ka.Pi	palm my	H3709 →
וְרָאִ֖יתָ	ve.ra.'I.ta	and you will see	H7200 →
אֶת־	'et-	<obj.>	H853 →
אֲחֹרָ֑י	'a.cho.Rai	back parts my	H268 →
וּפָנַ֖י	u.fa.Nai	and face my	H6440 →
לֹ֥א	lo'	not	H3808 →
יֵרָאֽוּ׃ ס	ye.ra.'U	they will be visible	H7200 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
leads to
- Colossians 1:15
  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- John 6:46
  not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.
- Matthew 11:27
  All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses…
- Luke 10:22
  All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to…
- 1 John 4:12
  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
Through
1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
leads to
- John 1:18
  No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 1:17
  Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 John 1:5
  And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Featured studies on this passage

Walks through Exodus 33

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About Exodus

The Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

Exodus: the study guide →Read chapter 33 →The featured study →

Continue: Exodus 33 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Exodus

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Exodus