Exodus 33:23

Exodus 33:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
• New International Version (NIV)Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Context of Exodus 33:23

21Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22and while My glory is passing by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and protectively cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Exodus 33:23 word by word

וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ אֶת־כַּפִּ֔י וְרָאִ֖יתָ אֶת־אֲחֹרָ֑י וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֥א יֵרָאֽוּ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I will takeסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
• away mine handכַּףkaph · palmH3709
• and thou shalt seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• my back partsאָחוֹר'âchôr 'âchôr · backH268
• but my faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440

Cross-references for Exodus 33:23

• Exodus 33:20But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live!”
• Job 11:7“Can you discover the depths of God? Can you [by searching] discover the limits of the Almighty [ascend to His heights, extend to His widths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?
• Job 26:14Yet these are just the fringes of His ways [mere samples of His power], The faintest whisper of His voice! Who can contemplate the thunder of His [full] mighty power?”
• John 1:18No one has seen God [His essence, His divine nature] at any time; the [One and] only begotten God [that is, the unique Son] who is in the intimate presence of the Father, He has explained Him [and interpreted and revealed the awesome wonder of the Father].
• 1 Corinthians 13:12For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].
• 1 Timothy 6:16He alone possesses immortality [absolute exemption from death] and lives in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal power and dominion! Amen.

Commentaries on Exodus 33:23

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-23Verses 12-23 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-23God desires to reveal his character to his people. However, to see his face means to see his full being (his true and complete nature). No human can see God in this way and live. God’s glorious presence is described in 33:22. That kind of direct encounter would bring death to a human person. God allowed Moses to see only a small part of his glory. Moses was given a brief glimpse, but nothing more.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2318-23. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 33:23

• Condescension of God
• Glory
• God
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Proclaim
• Back, Back Parts
• Covenant, Book of the
• Exodus, the Book of
• God
• Mediation; Mediator
• Moses
• Pentateuch
• Tabernacle

Commentaries on Exodus 33

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings