English Standard Version
Exodus 33:11
11Thus 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
Context of Exodus 33:11
9When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. 10And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 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. 12Moses said to the Lord, "See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' 13Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people."
Read all of Exodus 33Exodus 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 descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.
- Genesis 32:30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."
- Numbers 12:8With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
- Deuteronomy 5:4The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire,
- Deuteronomy 34:10And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,
- 2 Chronicles 20:7Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
- Job 16:21that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.
- Isaiah 42:8I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
- John 3:29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
- John 11:11After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."
- 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 counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.
- Exodus 17:9So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
- Exodus 24:13So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.
- Exodus 32:17When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise 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
In the dictionaries
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
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