New English Translation
Exodus 33:11
11The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, the way a person speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his servant, Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not leave 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
9And whenever 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. 10When all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people, each one at the entrance of his own tent, would rise and worship. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, the way a person speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his servant, Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the tent. 12Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have been saying to me, ‘Bring this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. But you said, ‘I know you by name, and also you have found favor in my sight.’ 13Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see 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 33:9And whenever 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 named the place Peniel, explaining, “Certainly I have seen God face to face and have survived.”
- Numbers 12:8With him I will speak face to face, openly, and not in riddles; and he will see the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
- Deuteronomy 5:4The Lord spoke face to face with you at the mountain, from the middle of the fire.
- Deuteronomy 34:10No prophet ever again arose in Israel like Moses, who knew the Lord face to face.
- 2 Chronicles 20:7Our God, you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham.
- Job 16:21and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend.
- Isaiah 42:8I am the Lord! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols.
- John 3:29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete.
- John 11:11After he said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there 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, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
- Exodus 17:9So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”
- Exodus 24:13So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up the mountain of God.
- Exodus 32:17When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “It is 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
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