Exodus 34:30

Exodus 34:30 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
• New International Version (NIV)When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.

Context of Exodus 34:30

28Moses was there on the mountain with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights. He did not eat anything or drink anything during that time. He wrote the words of God's covenant on the flat stones. Those were God's ten special commands. 29Moses came down from Sinai mountain. He carried the two stones of the covenant in his hands. As he came down the mountain, he did not know that his face was shining. His face was shining because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, they could see that his face was shining. They were afraid to come near him. 31But Moses called out to them. So Aaron and the leaders of the people came back to him. Then Moses talked to them. 32After this, all the Israelites came near to Moses. He told them all the commands that the Lord had given to him on Sinai mountain.

Exodus 34:30 word by word

וַיַּ֨רְא אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכָל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה קָרַ֖ן ע֣וֹר פָּנָ֑יו וַיִּֽירְא֖וּ מִגֶּ֥שֶׁת אֵלָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
• and all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• behold, the skinעוֹר‛ôr · skinH5785
• of his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• shoneקָרַןqâran · to shineH7160
• and they were afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• to come nighנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066

Cross-references for Exodus 34:30

• Numbers 12:8I speak clearly to him, as I come near to him. I do not say things to him that are hard to understand. He even sees the shape of the Lord. So you should have been afraid to speak against my servant Moses!’
• Mark 9:3His clothes became very white; they were shining. They were a brighter white than anyone on earth could wash them.
• Luke 5:8When Simon saw all the fish, he went down on his knees in front of Jesus. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I am a bad man. So please go away from me.’

Commentaries on Exodus 34:30

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 30They were afraid to come nigh him - A sight of his face alarmed them; their consciences were still guilty from their late transgression, and they had not yet received the atonement. The very appearance of superior sanctity often awes the guilty into respect.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-35Verses 28-35 Near and spiritual communion with God improves the graces of a renewed and holy character. Serious godliness puts a lustre upon a man's countenance, such as commands esteem and affection. The vail which Moses put on, marked the obscurity of that dispensation, compared with the gospel dispensation of the New Testament. It was also an emblem of the natural vail on the hearts of men respecting spiritual things. Also the vail that was and is upon…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-35Moses, who had asked to see the glory of God, was not aware that his own face reflected that glory.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3030. they were afraid to come nigh him--Their fear arose from a sense of guilt--the beaming radiance of his countenance made him appear to their awe-struck consciences a flaming minister of heaven.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 34:30

• Countenance
• Face
• God
• Miracles
• Moses
• Reverence
• Transfiguration

In the dictionaries

• Aaron
• Israel
• Moses
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Abundant
• Commandment
• Cut
• Desire

Commentaries on Exodus 34

• 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