God’s Word Translation
Exodus 33:9
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.
Exodus 33:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
- New International Version (NIV)As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
Context of Exodus 33:9
7Now, Moses used to take a tent and set it up far outside the camp. He called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who was seeking the Lord’s will used to go outside the camp to the tent of meeting. 8Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand at the entrances to their tents and watch Moses until he went in. As 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. 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.
Read all of Exodus 33Exodus 33:9 word by word
וְהָיָ֗ה כְּבֹ֤א מֹשֶׁה֙ הָאֹ֔הֱלָה יֵרֵד֙ עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ן וְעָמַ֖ד פֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֑הֶל וְדִבֶּ֖ר עִם־מֹשֶֽׁה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass, as Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- enteredבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
- the cloudyעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
- pillarעַמּוּד‛ammûd ‛ammûd · pillarH5982
- descendedיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- and stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- the doorפֶּ֫תַחpethach · entranceH6607
- talkedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
Cross-references for Exodus 33:9
- Exodus 13:21By day the Lord went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night.
- Psalms 99:7He spoke to them from a column of smoke. They obeyed his written instructions and the laws that he gave them.
- Exodus 33:11The 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 25:22I will be above the throne of mercy between the angels whenever I meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
- Exodus 31:18The Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets with his words on them, stone tablets inscribed by God himself.
- Exodus 34:3No one may come with you or even be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds may not graze in front of this mountain.”
- Genesis 17:22When God finished speaking with Abraham, he left him.
- Genesis 18:33When the Lord finished speaking to Abraham, he left. Abraham returned home.
- Numbers 11:17I’ll come down and speak with you there. I’ll take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will help you take care of the people. You won’t have to take care of the people alone.
- Ezekiel 3:22The power of the Lord came over me. He said, “Get up, and go to the plain. I will speak to you there.”
Commentaries on Exodus 33:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The cloudy pillar descended - This very circumstance precluded the possibility of deception. The cloud descending at these times, and at none others, was a full proof that it was miraculous, and a pledge of the Divine presence. It was beyond the power of human art to counterfeit such an appearance; and let it be observed that all the people saw this, Exodus 33:10. How many indubitable and irrefragable proofs of its own authenticity and Divine origin does…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. 8-11would stand … stand up and bow down: The people considered it amazing that Moses spoke directly to God, "face to face" (33:11).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 33:9
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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