Focused Passage

Exodus 33:12-23

The Crisis of the LORD’s Presence After the Golden Calf

The chapter moves from the LORD’s command for Israel to leave Sinai and go toward the promised land, to the frightening announcement that He will not go up in their midst lest He destroy them, to Israel’s mourning and removal of ornaments, to Moses’ practice of meeting with the LORD at the tent of meeting outside the camp, to Moses’ intercession for the LORD’s presence, to the LORD’s promise that His Presence will go with Moses and give rest, and finally to Moses’ request to see the LORD’s glory and the LORD’s gracious but limited self-revelation.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ 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 found favor in My sight.’

13Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”

14And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here.

16For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

17So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

18Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”

19“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

20But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

21The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,

22and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

23Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Original words

Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularLookרְ֠אֵהH7200Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularYouאַתָּ֞הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularhave been telling meאֹמֵ֤רH559Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular. . .אֵלַי֙H413Preposition | first person common singularLeadהַ֚עַלH5927Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularthisהַזֶּ֔הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularpeople upהָעָ֣םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerbut Youוְאַתָּה֙H859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularhave notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlelet me knowהֽוֹדַעְתַּ֔נִיH3045Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular-אֵ֥תH853Direct object markerwhomאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeYou will sendתִּשְׁלַ֖חH7971Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularwith meעִמִּ֑יH5973Preposition | first person common singularYet Youוְאַתָּ֤הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularhave saidאָמַ֙רְתָּ֙H559Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularI knowיְדַעְתִּ֣יךָֽH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularyou by nameבְשֵׁ֔םH8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand you haveוְגַם־H1571Conjunctionfoundמָצָ֥אתָH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularfavorחֵ֖ןH2580Noun - masculine singularin My sightבְּעֵינָֽי׃H5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Verse 13

Original words

Nowוְעַתָּ֡הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbifאִם־H518Conjunctionindeedנָא֩H4994InterjectionI have foundמָצָ֨אתִיH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularfavorחֵ֜ןH2580Noun - masculine singularin Your sightבְּעֵינֶ֗יךָH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularpleaseנָא֙H4994Interjectionlet me knowהוֹדִעֵ֤נִיH3045Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerYour waysדְּרָכֶ֔ךָH1870Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularthat I may know Youוְאֵדָ֣עֲךָ֔H3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person masculine singular. . .לְמַ֥עַןH4616Conjunctionand findאֶמְצָא־H4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularfavorחֵ֖ןH2580Noun - masculine singularin Your sightבְּעֵינֶ֑יךָH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularRememberוּרְאֵ֕הH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularthatכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionthisהַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularnationהַגּ֥וֹיH1471Article | Noun - masculine singularis Your peopleעַמְּךָ֖H5971Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

And [the LORD] answeredוַיֹּאמַ֑רH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularMy Presenceפָּנַ֥יH6440Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularwill go [with you]יֵלֵ֖כוּH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland I will give you restוַהֲנִחֹ֥תִיH5117Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Verse 15

Original words

Ifאִם־H518ConjunctionYour Presenceפָּנֶ֙יךָ֙H6440Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singulardoes notאֵ֤יןH369Adverbgo [with us]הֹלְכִ֔יםH1980Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralMoses repliedוַיֹּ֖אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularאֵלָ֑יואֵלָ֑יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singulardo notאַֽל־H408Adverblead us upתַּעֲלֵ֖נוּH5927Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common pluralfrom hereמִזֶּֽה׃H2088Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

For how thenוּבַמֶּ֣ה׀H4100Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Interrogativecan it be knownיִוָּדַ֣עH3045Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֵפ֗וֹאH645Conjunctionthatכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionYour peopleוְעַמֶּ֔ךָH5971Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand Iאֲנִ֣יH589Pronoun - first person common singularhave foundמָצָ֨אתִיH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularfavorחֵ֤ןH2580Noun - masculine singularin Your sightבְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙H5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularunlessהֲל֖וֹאH3808Adverb - Negative particleYou goבְּלֶכְתְּךָ֣H1980Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularwith usעִמָּ֑נוּH5973Preposition | first person common plural[How else will] weאֲנִ֣יH589Pronoun - first person common singular. . .וְעַמְּךָ֔H5971Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularbe distinguishedוְנִפְלֵ֙ינוּ֙H6395Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common pluralfrom allמִכָּ֨ל־H3605Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructthe other peopleהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֖רH834Pronoun - relativeonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe faceפְּנֵ֥יH6440Noun - common plural constructof the earthהָאֲדָמָֽה׃פH127Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

So the LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularI will doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularthisהַזֶּ֛הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeveryגַּ֣םH1571Conjunction-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthingהַדָּבָ֥רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularyou have askedדִּבַּ֖רְתָּH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou have foundמָצָ֤אתָH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularfavorחֵן֙H2580Noun - masculine singularin My sightבְּעֵינַ֔יH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | first person common singularand I knowוָאֵדָעֲךָ֖H3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularyou by nameבְּשֵֽׁם׃H8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Then Moses saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularPleaseנָ֖אH4994Interjection-אֶת־H853Direct object markershow meהַרְאֵ֥נִיH7200Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singularYour gloryכְּבֹדֶֽךָ׃H3519Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Iאֲנִ֨יH589Pronoun - first person common singularwill cause allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructMy goodnessטוּבִי֙H2898Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularto passאַעֲבִ֤ירH5674Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularbeforeעַל־H5921Prepositionyouפָּנֶ֔יךָH6440Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular[the LORD] repliedוַיֹּ֗אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand I will proclaimוְקָרָ֧אתִֽיH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular[My] nameבְשֵׁ֛םH8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularin your presenceלְפָנֶ֑יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularI will have mercyוְחַנֹּתִי֙H2603Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeron whomאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeI have mercyאָחֹ֔ןH2603Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularand I will have compassionוְרִחַמְתִּ֖יH7355Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeron whomאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI have compassionאֲרַחֵֽם׃H7355Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Romans 9:15
Verse 20

Original words

But He addedוַיֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularYou cannotלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particle. . .תוּכַ֖לH3201Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularseeלִרְאֹ֣תH7200Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerMy faceפָּנָ֑יH6440Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularforכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctionnoלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleoneהָאָדָ֖םH120Article | Noun - masculine singularcan see [Me]יִרְאַ֥נִיH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularand liveוָחָֽי׃H2421Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

The LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularcontinuedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularThereהִנֵּ֥הH2009Interjectionis a placeמָק֖וֹםH4725Noun - masculine singularnear Meאִתִּ֑יH854Direct object marker | first person common singularwhere you are to standוְנִצַּבְתָּ֖H5324Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularuponעַל־H5921Prepositiona rockהַצּֽוּר׃H6697Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

and whenוְהָיָה֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularMy gloryכְּבֹדִ֔יH3519Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularpasses byבַּעֲבֹ֣רH5674Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructI will put youוְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךָH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularin a cleftבְּנִקְרַ֣תH5366Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof the rockהַצּ֑וּרH6697Article | Noun - masculine singularand cover youוְשַׂכֹּתִ֥יH5526Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularwith My handכַפִּ֛יH3709Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular. . .עָלֶ֖יךָH5921Preposition | second person masculine singularuntilעַד־H5704PrepositionI have passed byעָבְרִֽי׃H5674Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Verse 23

Original words

Then I will take My handכַּפִּ֔יH3709Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularawayוַהֲסִרֹתִי֙H5493Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand you will seeוְרָאִ֖יתָH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerMy backאֲחֹרָ֑יH268Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularbut My faceוּפָנַ֖יH6440Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularmust notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebe seenיֵרָאֽוּ׃סH7200Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.