God’s Word Translation
Exodus 33:11
11The Lord would speak to Moses personally, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would come back to the camp, but his assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, stayed inside 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.
- 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
9As soon as Moses went into the tent, the column of smoke would come down and stay at the entrance to the tent while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10When all the people saw the column of smoke standing at the entrance to the tent, they would all bow with their faces touching the ground at the entrance to their own tents. The Lord would speak to Moses personally, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would come back to the camp, but his assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, stayed inside the tent. 12Moses said to the Lord, “You’ve been telling me to lead these people, but you haven’t let me know whom you’re sending with me. You’ve also said, ‘I know you by name, and I’m pleased with you.’ 13If you really are pleased with me, show me your ways so that I can know you and so that you will continue to be pleased with me. Remember: 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 33:9As soon as Moses went into the tent, the column of smoke would come down and stay at the entrance to the tent while the Lord spoke with Moses.
- Genesis 32:30So Jacob named that place Peniel [Face of God], because he said, “I have seen God face to face, but my life was saved.”
- Numbers 12:8I speak with him face to face, plainly and not in riddles. He even sees the form of the Lord. Why weren’t you afraid to criticize my servant Moses?”
- Deuteronomy 5:4The Lord spoke to you face to face from the fire on the mountain.
- Deuteronomy 34:10There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord dealt with face to face.
- 2 Chronicles 20:7Didn’t you, our God, force those who were living in this country out of Israel’s way? Didn’t you give this country to the descendants of your friend Abraham to have permanently?
- Job 16:21But my witness will plead for a human in front of God. The Son of Man will plead for his friend!
- Isaiah 42:8I am the Lord; that is my name. I will not give my glory to anyone else or the praise I deserve to idols.
- John 3:29“The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel.
- John 11:11After Jesus said this, he told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, and I’m going to Bethany to wake him.”
- John 15:14You are my friends if you obey my commandments.
- James 2:23The Scripture passage came true. It says, “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.” So Abraham was called God’s friend.
- Exodus 17:9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men. Then fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I will hold in my hand the staff God told me to take along.”
- Exodus 24:13Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
- Exodus 32:17Then Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting. He said to Moses, “It’s the 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
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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