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Exodus 34:31

in Exodus 34

But Moses called out to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke to them.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses spake to them.

KJV

And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.

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This verse in Exodus 34

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
A FAST of 40 days does not improve the appearance of a man's countenance—he looks starved, wrinkled, old, haggard. Moses had fasted 40 days twice, at least, and, according to many competent authorities, the 10th chapter of Deuteronomy seems to imply that he fasted 40 days three times in quick succession. I will not assert or deny the third 40 days, but it is certain that, with a very slight interval, Moses fasted 40 days and then 40 days more—and it is probable that to these must be added a third forty.

This site's exposition

But Moses called out to them

on Exodus 34:31-32

Moses calls them back instead of letting the fear stand, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation return first. Aaron made the calf in chapter 32, and he is the first man named coming near again. Moses then delivers the commandments to all the Israelites.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

And Moses called unto them,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

In all this God dealt with Moses as a public person, and mediator between him and Israel, and a type of the great Mediator. God's Proclamation of Himself.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A FAST of 40 days does not improve the appearance of a man's countenance—he looks starved, wrinkled, old, haggard. Moses had fasted 40 days twice, at least, and, according to many competent authorities, the 10th chapter of Deuteronomy seems to imply that he fasted 40 days three times in quick succession. I will not assert or deny the third 40 days, but it is certain that, with a very slight interval, Moses fasted 40 days and then 40 days more—and it is probable that to these must be added a third forty. Small attractiveness would naturally remain in a face which had endured so stern an ordeal, but the Lord whom he served made his face brilliant with an unusual luster! The glory of the Light of God upon his countenance may have been the reason why he remained so free from infirmity in later years of old age. This man of 80 spent 40 more years in guiding Israel and in the end his eyes had not dimmed nor his natural force abated! He that could fast 40 days would be a hard morsel for death. Those eyes which had looked upon the Glory of God were not likely to wax dim amid earthly scenes— and that natural force which had endured the vision of the Supernatural could well support the fatigues of the wilderness. God so sustained His servant that his long and repeated fasts, during which he did not even drink water, did no harm to his physical constitution! The abstinence, even from water, renders the fast the more remarkable and lifts it out of similarity to modern feats of fasting. Moses did not know, at the time, that his face was shining—but he did know it afterwards—and he has here recorded it. He gives in detail the fact of the brightness of his own face, how others were struck with it and what he had to do in order to associate with them.

The words behind it

12 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיִּקְרָ֤אand he summoned

    vaiyikra'H7121 →733 times

  • אֲלֵהֶם֙<to> them

    ʾalehemH413 →5510 times

  • מֹשֶׁ֔הMoses

    moshehH4872 →765 times

  • וַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּand they returned

    vaiyashuvuH7725 →1056 times

  • אֵלָ֛יוto him

    ʾelavH413 →5510 times

  • אַהֲרֹ֥ןAaron

    ʾaharonH175 →347 times

  • וְכָל־and all

    vekholH3605 →5413 times

  • הַנְּשִׂאִ֖יםthe leaders

    hanesiimH5387 →134 times

  • בָּעֵדָ֑הamong the congregation

    baedahH5712 →149 times

  • וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spoke

    vaydaberH1696 →1141 times

  • מֹשֶׁ֖הMoses

    moshehH4872 →765 times

  • אֲלֵהֶֽם׃to them

    ʾalehemH413 →5510 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

5 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Exodus 3:15God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.3 worksExodus 24:1–3Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.2 worksExodus 16:22On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.2 worksGenesis 45:15Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.1 worksGenesis 45:3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Exodus 3:15

    God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My…

    it leads to

    • Genesis 17:7–8

      I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

    • Hebrews 13:8

      Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

    • Malachi 3:6

      “Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.

    • Hosea 12:5

      the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown.

    • Exodus 3:6

      Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to…

  • Through

    Genesis 45:3

    Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

    it leads to

    • Acts 7:13

      On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.

    • Acts 9:5

      “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

  • Through

    Genesis 45:15

    Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

    it leads to

    • Luke 15:20

      So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and…

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies27

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About Exodus

Moses Comes Down from Mount Sinai — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Moses Comes Down from Mount Sinai — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Exodus: the study guide →Read Exodus 34 →

This page draws on Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2143: “The Shining of the Face of Moses” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Exodus 34 →