Exodus 33:10 kjv
And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
Exodus 33:10 nkjv
All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.
Exodus 33:10 niv
Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.
Exodus 33:10 esv
And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.
Exodus 33:10 nlt
When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents.
Exodus 33 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 13:21-22 | "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud... and by night in a pillar of fire..." | God's constant presence and guidance. |
| Ex 14:19-20 | "The pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them..." | Divine protection and barrier. |
| Num 9:15-23 | "On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle... at the mouth of the tent of the testimony." | Cloud covers Tabernacle, signifying dwelling. |
| Deut 1:33 | "He went before you... in a pillar of cloud by day, to show you the way..." | God's active role in leading Israel. |
| Ps 78:14 | "In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all night with a fiery light." | Remembering God's faithfulness in the wilderness. |
| Isa 4:5 | "Then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the brightness of a flaming fire by night..." | Future manifestation of divine protection. |
| Neh 9:12, 19 | "You led them in a pillar of cloud by day... you did not withdraw your pillar of cloud..." | God's continuous guidance and mercy. |
| Ex 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | Command to build a dwelling place for God. |
| Ex 40:34-38 | "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." | God's glory filling the completed Tabernacle. |
| Lev 1:1 | "The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting..." | God's communication from within the tent. |
| Num 7:89 | "Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat..." | Direct divine communication in the tent. |
| Ex 33:7-9 | "Now Moses used to take the tent... called the tent of meeting... When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend..." | Contextual reference to the tent of meeting. |
| Gen 24:26 | "Then the man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD." | Individual act of worship. |
| 1 Chr 29:20 | "Then David said to all the assembly, 'Bless the LORD your God.' And all the assembly blessed the LORD... and bowed down and paid homage..." | Corporate worship and bowing down. |
| Ps 95:6 | "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!" | Exhortation to humble worship. |
| Phil 2:10-11 | "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth..." | Universal future worship of Christ. |
| Rev 5:14 | "And the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the elders fell down and worshiped." | Heavenly beings worship God. |
| Rev 7:11 | "And all the angels were standing around the throne... and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God..." | Angels bowing in worship. |
| Lk 9:34 | "As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them..." | The Transfiguration, God's presence as cloud. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." | New Covenant access to God's presence. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image..." | Spiritual transformation through beholding glory. |
| Jn 4:23-24 | "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." | Shift to spiritual worship over location. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood..." | Christ, our ultimate High Priest, grants access to God's presence. |
Exodus 33 verses
Exodus 33 10 Meaning
Exodus 33:10 describes the collective and individual reverence of the Israelites in response to a visible manifestation of God's presence. When the pillar of cloud, signifying God's glory and communication, would stop at the entrance of the tent of meeting, the entire community would instinctively rise and prostrate themselves in worship from their respective tents, acknowledging His majestic presence among them.
Exodus 33 10 Context
Exodus 33 details the aftermath of Israel's grievous sin with the golden calf. God, in His holiness, initially refuses to accompany the people into the promised land directly, lest He consume them due to their stiff-necked rebellion. In this context, Moses sets up a temporary "tent of meeting" (Ohel Mo'ed) outside the camp, a place where God would condescend to meet with Moses face to face. This temporary tent serves as a vital intermediary, signifying that while God's glory remained distinct from the now defiled camp, His communication with His chosen leader continued. Verse 10 specifically describes the people's collective and individual response to the visible sign of God's manifest presence in this temporary dwelling place—the pillar of cloud. It underscores their continued recognition of divine authority, even from a distance, following their corporate sin. This setup also highlights Moses' unique role as intercessor and mediator for the people.
Exodus 33 10 Word analysis
- When all the people saw: Signifies a universal observation by the Israelite community, implying shared knowledge and a collective spiritual event. It was a clear, unambiguous sign.
- the pillar of cloud: (
ammûḏ ʿānān) A recurrent motif representing God's active and visible presence, guidance, and protective care. It is an objective manifestation of thekavod(glory) of God. This pillar had previously led them (Ex 13:21) and separated them from the Egyptians (Ex 14:19-20). Its appearance here reinforces divine authority. - standing: (
ʿāmad) To stand, remain, endure. Implies a static, observable posture. It is a moment for observation and reverence, not movement or instruction to follow. - at the entrance: (
pethaḥ) The opening, gateway, or mouth of the tent. It denotes a specific, clearly identifiable location for the visible manifestation, emphasizing proximity and accessibility (to Moses, and indirectly, to the people). - of the tent: (
ʾōhel) Here refers specifically to the "tent of meeting" (Ohel Mo'ed) that Moses erected outside the camp (Ex 33:7). It is distinct from the future Tabernacle yet to be constructed. This temporary tent was God's immediate point of interface with Israel after the Golden Calf incident. - all the people would rise up: (
qūm) To stand, arise. This action indicates reverence, respect, and readiness. It's a deferential posture, acknowledging divine sovereignty. It was an immediate and habitual response. - and worship: (
šāḥâ) To bow down, prostrate oneself. This is a profound act of adoration, humility, and submission. It signifies acknowledging God's ultimate authority and majesty. - each at the entrance of his tent: This detail is significant. While it was a collective response by "all the people," their worship was performed individually, from their personal living spaces within the camp. This highlights both corporate reverence and individual accountability in worship, emphasizing that sacred space and devotion permeated the daily lives of the Israelites, not just specialized ritualistic settings.
Exodus 33 10 Bonus section
The pillar of cloud and fire represents God's Shekhinah glory, the manifest presence of God. While the primary function of the pillar was guidance and protection, its stationary appearance here becomes a beacon for worship. The act of the pillar descending from within the tent of meeting (Ex 33:9) and then standing at the entrance for the people to witness underscores the directness and intentionality of this divine revelation. The phrase "each at the entrance of his tent" implies a form of distance yet also personal connection; the people did not necessarily rush forward to the tent itself, which was primarily for Moses, but expressed their devotion from where they lived. This verse prefigures the principle that God seeks worshipers in spirit and truth, who respond to His manifest presence from wherever they are, even before a fully developed system of formal worship.
Exodus 33 10 Commentary
Exodus 33:10 illustrates Israel's immediate, reverent response to God's visible presence. The pillar of cloud, God's enduring symbol of presence and guidance, halting at the entrance of the humble tent of meeting outside the camp, was a signal for the entire nation. Despite their recent apostasy, the people demonstrated an innate recognition of divine authority. Their action of rising and prostrating themselves from the threshold of their own dwellings underscores a vital principle: authentic worship is not confined to a single sanctuary or formal ceremony but pervades the individual's life and household. It was a prompt, humble, and universal expression of awe, a silent testimony to their continued, though flawed, covenant relationship with Yahweh. This collective and individual act solidified their awareness of a present, active God in their midst.