Exodus 33:11

Exodus 33:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And 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.
• New International Version (NIV)The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

Context of Exodus 33:11

9When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance to the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. 10As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent. The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend, then Moses would return to the camp. His assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent. 12Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’ 13Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”

Exodus 33:11 word by word

וְדִבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יְדַבֵּ֥ר אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְשָׁב֙ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וּמְשָׁ֨רְת֜וֹ יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בִּן־נוּן֙ נַ֔עַר לֹ֥א יָמִ֖ישׁ מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֹֽהֶל׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• unto Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• as a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• unto his friendרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• And he turned againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• into the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• but his servantשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Nunנוּןnûn nôn · NunH5126
• a young manנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• departedמוּשׁmûsh · to removeH4185
• not outתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• of the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168

Cross-references for Exodus 33:11

• Exodus 33:9When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance to the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.
• Genesis 32:30Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.”
• Numbers 12:8I speak with him directly, openly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
• Deuteronomy 5:4The Lord spoke to you face to face from the fire on the mountain.
• Deuteronomy 34:10No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.
• 2 Chronicles 20:7Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
• Job 16:21I wish that someone might argue for a man with God just as anyone would for a friend.
• Isaiah 42:8I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
• John 3:29He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.
• John 11:11He said this, and then he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up.”
• John 15:14You are my friends if you do what I command you.
• James 2:23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.
• Exodus 17:9Moses said to Joshua, “Select some men for us and go fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with God’s staff in my hand.”
• Exodus 24:13So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua and went up the mountain of God.
• Exodus 32:17When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.”

Commentaries on Exodus 33:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11The Lord spake unto Moses face to face - That there was no personal appearance here we may readily conceive; and that the communications made by God to Moses were not by visions, ecstasies, dreams, inward inspirations, or the mediation of angels, is sufficiently evident: we may therefore consider the passage as implying that familiarity and confidence with which the Divine Being treated his servant, and that he spake with him by articulate sounds in his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Face to face - See Exodus 33:20 note.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-11Verses 7-11 Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp. This seems to have been a temporary building, set up for worship, and at which he judged disputes among the people. The people looked after him; they were very desirous to be at peace with God, and concerned to know what would come to pass. The cloudy pillar which had withdrawn from the camp when it was polluted with idolatry, now returned. If our hearts go forth toward God to meet…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Joshua had earlier gained experience as a military leader (see 17:9–13). Now, he was gaining experience as a spiritual leader (see also 24:13). He may have stayed behind to guard the tent, a function the Levites would later fulfill with the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 26).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-119-11. the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle--How would the downcast hearts of the people revive--how would the tide of joy swell in every bosom, when the symbolic cloud was seen slowly and majestically to descend and stand at the entrance of the tabernacle! as Moses entered--It was when he appeared as their mediator, when he repaired from day to day to intercede for them, that welcome token of assurance was given that his…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 33:11

• Communion
• God
• Joshua
• Moses
• Prophets
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• Joshua
• Moses
• Communion
• Minister
• Nun
• Proclaim
• Servitor
• Angel
• Covenant, Book of the
• Criticism

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