Exodus 33:22 kjv
And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Exodus 33:22 nkjv
So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.
Exodus 33:22 niv
When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
Exodus 33:22 esv
and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
Exodus 33:22 nlt
As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
Exodus 33 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 33:20 | "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" | God's unapproachable holiness and human mortality |
| Exo 33:21 | "Behold, there is a place by Me where you shall stand on the rock..." | Setting the stage for the location |
| Exo 19:21 | "Go down and warn the people... lest many of them perish." | God's protective boundaries for human safety |
| Deut 32:4 | "He is the Rock, His work is perfect..." | God as the unyielding, perfect Rock |
| 1 Sam 2:2 | "There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God." | God as unique, incomparable Rock |
| Psa 18:2 | "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer..." | God as personal refuge and protector |
| Psa 91:1 | "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High..." | Divine dwelling place for protection |
| Psa 91:4 | "He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge;" | God's protective covering and refuge |
| Psa 57:1 | "In the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by." | Seeking refuge under divine protection |
| Isa 2:10 | "Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD..." | Hiding from God's overwhelming presence |
| Isa 26:4 | "Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock." | God as everlasting, trustworthy refuge |
| Isa 49:2 | "In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me..." | Divine protection/hiding |
| Ezek 1:28 | "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD." | Visual manifestations of God's glory are partial |
| Rom 1:20 | "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen..." | Partial revelation of God's nature in creation |
| 1 Cor 13:12 | "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;" | Limited understanding of God in current age |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | "...who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light..." | God's transcendence and inaccessibility |
| Heb 1:3 | "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature..." | Christ as the ultimate revelation of God's glory |
| Heb 12:29 | "for our God is a consuming fire." | God's intense and dangerous holiness |
| Rev 1:17 | "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man." | Mortal reaction to direct divine encounters |
Exodus 33 verses
Exodus 33 22 Meaning
This verse describes God's compassionate action to protect Moses during a unique and perilous encounter with His divine glory. As God's majestic presence passes, He assures Moses that He will strategically place him in a protective crevice within a rock and will cover him with His hand, ensuring Moses' survival during this profound manifestation of God's holiness. It highlights both God's terrifying holiness and His tender, personal care for His servant.
Exodus 33 22 Context
Exodus chapter 33 occurs immediately after the Golden Calf incident (Exo 32), where the Israelites' rebellion profoundly grieved God. Moses intercedes fervently for the people and for God's continued presence among them, arguing that without God's presence, they are indistinguishable from other nations. God assents to guide them (Exo 33:14), but Moses, driven by his intimate relationship and spiritual longing, makes an extraordinary request in verse 18: "Please, show me Your glory!" This bold plea for a direct, unveiled manifestation of God's glory prompts God's response, which begins in verse 19, promising to proclaim His goodness and compassion before Moses. Verse 22 then details the precise divine provision and setup to protect Moses, making it possible for him to endure a partial revelation of God's presence without perishing. The entire passage highlights the tension between God's unapproachable holiness and His desire to relate mercifully to humanity.
Exodus 33 22 Word analysis
- And it shall come to pass: (Hebrew: וְהָיָה - v'hayah) A common introductory phrase in Hebrew, signifying a divine decree or the certain outcome of what is about to be described. It indicates a determined future event.
- while My glory passeth by: (Hebrew: כִּבְרֹס כְּבוֹדִי - ki-b’rōṯ kəḇōḏî).
- My glory (כְּבוֹדִי - kəḇōḏî): Derived from kavod (כָּבוֹד), meaning "weight," "heaviness," "dignity," or "splendor." It represents God's manifested presence, His inherent majesty, awesome power, and intrinsic worth. This is not His essence in full, but a revelation of His attributes. It is both captivating and inherently dangerous for sinful beings.
- passeth by (עָבַר - 'avar): Implies a transient movement, not a static presence. God is in motion, allowing a controlled, limited, and brief experience of His presence. This controlled passage underscores God's sovereignty over revelation.
- that I will put thee: (Hebrew: וְשַׂמְתִּיךָ - və-śamtîḵā) Derived from śim (שִׂים), "to put" or "to place." This signifies God's direct, intentional, and personal action. It emphasizes God's initiative in providing safety.
- in a cleft of the rock: (Hebrew: בְּנִקְרַת הַצּוּר - bə-niqrāṯ haṣ-ṣûr).
- cleft (נִקְרַת - niqraṯ): Meaning a fissure, crack, or narrow opening in rock. It suggests a constricted, hidden place. This physically illustrates a space of concealment and vulnerability made secure by divine intervention.
- rock (הַצּוּר - haṣ-ṣûr): A sturdy, unmoving, and enduring natural formation. While "Rock" often metaphorically refers to God as a refuge, here it signifies a literal physical rock on Sinai. Its solidity provides the structure for the "cleft."
- and will cover thee: (Hebrew: וְשַׂכֹּתִי - və-śakkōṯî) From sakak (סָכַךְ), "to overshadow," "to cover," "to fence in," or "to protect." This implies an act of physical and supernatural shielding, providing a barrier against the overwhelming force of divine glory.
- with My hand: (Hebrew: בְּכַפִּי - bə-ḵappî) This is an anthropomorphism, attributing a human physical characteristic (hand/palm) to God. It symbolizes God's direct, immediate, personal, and powerful protective presence. It is not a literal hand but a tangible expression of His intervention and care.
- while I pass by: (Hebrew: עַד עָבְרִי - 'ad 'oḇrî) Reiterates the temporary nature of God's passage. The protection is needed only for the duration of this specific revelation, reinforcing the transient and conditional aspect of seeing God's glory in this manner.
Words-group analysis: