Exodus 33:17 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Exodus 33:17 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Exodus 33:17 nkjv

So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name."

Exodus 33:17 niv

And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Exodus 33:17 esv

And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."

Exodus 33:17 nlt

The LORD replied to Moses, "I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name."

Exodus 33 17 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Divine Favor (Chen)
Gen 6:8	But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.	Noah found grace for a special purpose.
Est 2:17	The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found favor...	Esther's favor led to divine deliverance.
Lk 1:30	...do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.	Mary's favor for bearing Christ.
Acts 7:46	David, who found favor in the sight of God...	David's favor for building a house for God.
Prov 3:4	So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.	Favor is linked to wisdom and divine guidance.
Prov 13:15	Good understanding brings favor...	Favor comes from living wisely.
Zec 4:7	He will bring forth the top stone with shoutings of "Grace, grace to it!"	Grace as God's enabling favor for His work.
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...	Believers access grace through Christ.
Knowing by Name (Yada')
Psa 1:6	For the LORD knows the way of the righteous...	God intimately knows His faithful ones.
Isa 43:1	...Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.	God's personal ownership and salvation.
Jn 10:3-4	...The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.	Christ as the Good Shepherd, knowing His own.
Gal 4:9	...now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God...	Being known by God is paramount to knowing Him.
2 Tim 2:19	...The Lord knows those who are His...	God's sovereign knowledge and security of believers.
Psa 139:1	O LORD, you have searched me and known me!	God's exhaustive and personal knowledge.
God's Responsiveness / Intercession
Psa 91:15	When he calls to me, I will answer him...	God answers those who call upon Him.
Jer 33:3	Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things...	God invites prayer and promises response.
Jas 5:16	...The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.	Efficacy of righteous prayer.
1 Jn 5:14-15	...if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us...	Assurance of God hearing and answering prayer.
Num 12:8	...With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles...	Moses' unique relationship with God.
Deu 34:10	...there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.	Moses' unparalleled intimacy with God.
God's Presence / Leading
Exo 33:14-15	And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." ...if your presence will not go with me...	Immediate context: Moses' plea for God's presence.
Deu 31:6	Be strong and courageous... for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.	God's promise to be with His people.
Josh 1:5	No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.	God's promise of abiding presence to Joshua.
Mt 28:20	...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.	Christ's promise of His perpetual presence.
Heb 13:5	...for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."	God's unwavering commitment to His people.

Exodus 33 verses

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Exodus 33 17 Meaning

Exodus 33:17 reveals God's affirmative response to Moses' plea, signifying His personal commitment to lead Israel. It emphasizes that the divine will to act on behalf of His people is rooted in a specific, profound relationship—namely, His unique favor upon Moses and an intimate, personal knowledge of him by name. This verse confirms God's intention to honor Moses' intercession, ensuring His presence among the Israelites as they journeyed to the promised land.

Exodus 33 17 Context

Exodus 33:17 stands as a pivotal moment following Israel's catastrophic sin with the golden calf (Exo 32). Due to their idolatry and stiff-necked rebellion, God, in His holiness and justice, had initially declared that His "presence" would not go with them, sending an angel instead (Exo 33:3). This divine withdrawal meant a severed relationship and a journey without the intimate divine guidance that defines the covenant. Moses, burdened by this spiritual disaster, had taken the "tent of meeting" outside the camp (Exo 33:7), symbolizing God's provisional separation. In the subsequent verses (Exo 33:12-16), Moses earnestly intercedes, arguing that Israel is God's people and pleading for God's presence to be their distinct mark among all nations. This verse, Exodus 33:17, is God's direct, personal, and profoundly merciful response to Moses' heartfelt plea, assuring His active involvement and presence with them, not because of Israel's merit, but due to Moses' unique standing before Him.

Exodus 33 17 Word analysis

And the LORD: (Adonai, or YHWH, the sacred personal name of God, revealing His self-existent, covenant-keeping nature. It implies His personal involvement and reliability, distinguishing Him from pagan deities. This is the same God who "is" rather than "was" or "will be", underscoring His enduring faithfulness.
said: Implies direct verbal communication, highlighting the personal nature of God's interaction with Moses.
to Moses: Moses is identified as the direct recipient of God's word, underscoring his unique role as mediator and intercessor.
"I will do: ('asah, to make, to do, to accomplish). This is a strong affirmation of divine action, promising actual fulfillment rather than mere possibility. God promises to bring to pass what Moses asked.
the very thing: (ha'davar, literally "the word" or "the matter"). This indicates a precise and direct response to Moses' specific petition, showing God's attentiveness.
you have asked": (biqashta, you have requested, sought, or desired). Highlights Moses' agency and the power of his intercessory prayer.
for you have found favor: (ki matasta chen). Chen signifies 'grace' or 'unmerited favor,' often leading to active demonstration of kindness or beneficial outcomes. This is not something Moses earned but was graciously bestowed. This concept of chen is fundamental throughout scripture, from Noah to Mary.
in my sight: (be'eynay, in my eyes). This idiom indicates a clear perception and acceptance from God's perspective. Moses is pleasing to God, not in his own strength, but by divine grace.
and I know you: (v'eda'eka). The verb yada' means to 'know' in a deep, relational, and intimate sense, not merely intellectual awareness. It signifies recognition, affirmation, approval, and a choosing relationship, distinct from simply identifying someone. It often implies a covenantal or intimate bond.
by name": (bishem). To be known "by name" amplifies the intimacy and personal nature of yada'. In the ancient Near East, knowing someone's name, especially a deity's, indicated deep familiarity, authority, or possession. Here, God knows Moses intimately and personally, marking him as specially chosen and acknowledged. This stands in contrast to His more general knowledge of Israel or His people, signifying Moses' unique access.

Exodus 33 17 Bonus section

The affirmation "I know you by name" establishes a direct and unmediated relationship between God and Moses, unparalleled elsewhere in the Exodus narrative (compare Num 12:8 and Deu 34:10). This specific "knowing" is the ground upon which God will proceed with the people despite their failures, making Moses' unique position crucial for Israel's survival. This passage subtly foreshadows the New Covenant, where believers, through Christ, are individually "known by God" (Gal 4:9) and called "by name" (Isa 43:1, Jn 10:3), establishing an intimate relationship that secures divine presence and grace. It emphasizes that while God is holy and just, He is also deeply personal and relational, responsive to the intercession of those He has uniquely chosen and called by name.

Exodus 33 17 Commentary

Exodus 33:17 serves as a profound affirmation of God's responsiveness to the prayer of His chosen mediator. It underscores that God's willingness to re-establish His direct presence with His rebellious people hinges on His personal relationship with Moses. The verse illuminates the power of chen, divine favor, demonstrating that such favor allows a man to influence the course of divine action. More significantly, God's declaration, "I know you by name," reveals the depth of His intimacy and specific identification with Moses. This 'knowing' (yada') transcends mere awareness, denoting a covenantal bond, a deliberate choice, and an active approval that is the basis for His decision to go with Israel. This verse stands as a testament to God's readiness to extend grace and re-engage, not on human merit, but on the foundation of a specific, beloved relationship.