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

12 Then 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.’

13 Now 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.”

14 And 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.

16 For 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?”

17 So 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.”

18 Then 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.”

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

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

22 and 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.

23 Then 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 Moses מֹשֶׁ֜ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular Look רְ֠אֵה H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular You אַתָּ֞ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular have been telling me אֹמֵ֤ר H559 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . אֵלַי֙ H413 Preposition | first person common singular Lead הַ֚עַל H5927 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular this הַזֶּ֔ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular people up הָעָ֣ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker but You וְאַתָּה֙ H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular have not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle let me know הֽוֹדַעְתַּ֔נִי H3045 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular - אֵ֥ת H853 Direct object marker whom אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative You will send תִּשְׁלַ֖ח H7971 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular with me עִמִּ֑י H5973 Preposition | first person common singular Yet You וְאַתָּ֤ה H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular have said אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular I know יְדַעְתִּ֣יךָֽ H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular you by name בְשֵׁ֔ם H8034 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular and you have וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction found מָצָ֥אתָ H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular favor חֵ֖ן H2580 Noun - masculine singular in My sight בְּעֵינָֽי׃ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Verse 13

Original words

Now וְעַתָּ֡ה H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb if אִם־ H518 Conjunction indeed נָא֩ H4994 Interjection I have found מָצָ֨אתִי H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular favor חֵ֜ן H2580 Noun - masculine singular in Your sight בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular please נָא֙ H4994 Interjection let me know הוֹדִעֵ֤נִי H3045 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Your ways דְּרָכֶ֔ךָ H1870 Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular that I may know You וְאֵדָ֣עֲךָ֔ H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person masculine singular . . . לְמַ֥עַן H4616 Conjunction and find אֶמְצָא־ H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular favor חֵ֖ן H2580 Noun - masculine singular in Your sight בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular Remember וּרְאֵ֕ה H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular that כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction this הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular nation הַגּ֥וֹי H1471 Article | Noun - masculine singular is Your people עַמְּךָ֖ H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

And [the LORD] answered וַיֹּאמַ֑ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular My Presence פָּנַ֥י H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular will go [with you] יֵלֵ֖כוּ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and I will give you rest וַהֲנִחֹ֥תִי H5117 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Verse 15

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction Your Presence פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ H6440 Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular does not אֵ֤ין H369 Adverb go [with us] הֹלְכִ֔ים H1980 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Moses replied וַיֹּ֖אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular אֵלָ֑יו אֵלָ֑יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular do not אַֽל־ H408 Adverb lead us up תַּעֲלֵ֖נוּ H5927 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common plural from here מִזֶּֽה׃ H2088 Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

For how then וּבַמֶּ֣ה׀ H4100 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Interrogative can it be known יִוָּדַ֣ע H3045 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֵפ֗וֹא H645 Conjunction that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction Your people וְעַמֶּ֔ךָ H5971 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and I אֲנִ֣י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular have found מָצָ֨אתִי H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular favor חֵ֤ן H2580 Noun - masculine singular in Your sight בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular unless הֲל֖וֹא H3808 Adverb - Negative particle You go בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֣ H1980 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular with us עִמָּ֑נוּ H5973 Preposition | first person common plural [How else will] we אֲנִ֣י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular . . . וְעַמְּךָ֔ H5971 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular be distinguished וְנִפְלֵ֙ינוּ֙ H6395 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural from all מִכָּ֨ל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct the other people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the face פְּנֵ֥י H6440 Noun - common plural construct of the earth הָאֲדָמָֽה׃פ H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

So the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular I will do אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular this הַזֶּ֛ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative very גַּ֣ם H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker thing הַדָּבָ֥ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular you have asked דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you have found מָצָ֤אתָ H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular favor חֵן֙ H2580 Noun - masculine singular in My sight בְּעֵינַ֔י H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | first person common singular and I know וָאֵדָעֲךָ֖ H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular you by name בְּשֵֽׁם׃ H8034 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Then Moses said וַיֹּאמַ֑ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Please נָ֖א H4994 Interjection - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker show me הַרְאֵ֥נִי H7200 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular Your glory כְּבֹדֶֽךָ׃ H3519 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

I אֲנִ֨י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular will cause all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct My goodness טוּבִי֙ H2898 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular to pass אַעֲבִ֤יר H5674 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular before עַל־ H5921 Preposition you פָּנֶ֔יךָ H6440 Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular [the LORD] replied וַיֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and I will proclaim וְקָרָ֧אתִֽי H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular [My] name בְשֵׁ֛ם H8034 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular in your presence לְפָנֶ֑יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular I will have mercy וְחַנֹּתִי֙ H2603 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker on whom אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative I have mercy אָחֹ֔ן H2603 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular and I will have compassion וְרִחַמְתִּ֖י H7355 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker on whom אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I have compassion אֲרַחֵֽם׃ H7355 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Romans 9:15
Verse 20

Original words

But He added וַיֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular You cannot לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . תוּכַ֖ל H3201 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular see לִרְאֹ֣ת H7200 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker My face פָּנָ֑י H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular for כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction no לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle one הָאָדָ֖ם H120 Article | Noun - masculine singular can see [Me] יִרְאַ֥נִי H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular and live וָחָֽי׃ H2421 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular continued וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular There הִנֵּ֥ה H2009 Interjection is a place מָק֖וֹם H4725 Noun - masculine singular near Me אִתִּ֑י H854 Direct object marker | first person common singular where you are to stand וְנִצַּבְתָּ֖ H5324 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular upon עַל־ H5921 Preposition a rock הַצּֽוּר׃ H6697 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

and when וְהָיָה֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular My glory כְּבֹדִ֔י H3519 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular passes by בַּעֲבֹ֣ר H5674 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct I will put you וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךָ H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular in a cleft בְּנִקְרַ֣ת H5366 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of the rock הַצּ֑וּר H6697 Article | Noun - masculine singular and cover you וְשַׂכֹּתִ֥י H5526 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular with My hand כַפִּ֛י H3709 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular . . . עָלֶ֖יךָ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition I have passed by עָבְרִֽי׃ H5674 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Verse 23

Original words

Then I will take My hand כַּפִּ֔י H3709 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular away וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ H5493 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and you will see וְרָאִ֖יתָ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker My back אֲחֹרָ֑י H268 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular but My face וּפָנַ֖י H6440 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular must not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be seen יֵרָאֽוּ׃ס H7200 Verb - 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.