Exodus 33 4

Exodus 33:4 kjv

And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.

Exodus 33:4 nkjv

And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.

Exodus 33:4 niv

When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

Exodus 33:4 esv

When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.

Exodus 33:4 nlt

When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes.

Exodus 33 verses

Exodus 33 4 Meaning

Exodus 33:4 describes the Israelites' immediate and profound reaction to YHWH's declaration that He would no longer personally accompany them to the Promised Land due to their stubbornness. Upon hearing these "harsh words," they plunged into a deep state of mourning, signifying their profound grief, humility, and acknowledgment of the severe consequence of their sin. As an outward expression of their inner contrition and sorrow, every individual spontaneously removed their ornaments, a symbolic act of foregoing joy, beauty, pride, and status in their collective abasement before the Holy God.

Exodus 33 4 Context

Exodus 33:4 follows directly from YHWH's severe judgment after the golden calf incident. Though Moses successfully interceded for the people, YHWH, in His holiness and wrath against their "stiff-necked" nature (Exo 33:3), declared that He would not personally go up with them to the Promised Land. Instead, He would send an angel. This verse captures the Israelites' visceral response to this dreadful pronouncement. Their mourning and removal of ornaments highlight their recognition of the grave spiritual and practical implications of YHWH's withdrawn personal presence, which was seen as a far greater loss than any material possession or even the promise of the land itself. Historically, the immediate covenant violation at Sinai led to this divine distancing, a profoundly significant theological statement about God's holiness and the seriousness of human sin.

Exodus 33 4 Word analysis

• When the people heard:
  • Original: vayyishma` ha`am (וַיִּשְׁמַע הָעָם)
  • vayyishma` (וַיִּשְׁמַע): "And he heard," "And they heard." This verb (consecutive imperfect) conveys an immediate and active reception. The people truly listened and understood the profound implications of the divine decree, leading directly to their response.
  • ha`am (הָעָם): "the people." Refers to the entire collective Israelite nation, indicating a widespread and unanimous understanding and reaction.
• these harsh words:
  • Original: `et haDavar haRa` haZeh (אֶת הַדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה)
  • haDavar (הַדָּבָר): "the word," "the matter," "the thing." Signifies YHWH's weighty declaration or pronouncement. It’s a definite, authoritative statement from God.
  • haRa` (הָרָע): "the evil," "the bad," "the distressing," "the grievous," "the calamitous." This term is crucial. It does not imply that YHWH's words were morally "evil," but that their content conveyed a severe, painful, and distressing consequence for the people. It highlighted the calamitous state brought upon them by their sin and the implications of divine withdrawal. This reflects their perception of the divine judgment.
  • haZeh (הַזֶּה): "this." Refers specifically to the declaration made by YHWH in Exodus 33:3.
• they mourned:
  • Original: vayyit'ablu (וַיִּתְאַבְּלוּ)
  • vayyit'ablu (וַיִּתְאַבְּלוּ): "And they mourned themselves," "And they were grieved." This Hithpael (reflexive-reciprocal) verb form denotes an active, self-directed expression of deep sorrow and lamentation. It signifies a profound corporate experience of grief, remorse, and humility. This mourning is a spiritual and emotional distress arising from the understanding of their sin and its dire consequence—the potential loss of YHWH's intimate presence.
• and no one put on his ornaments:
  • Original: vəlo' shatu ish `edyo `alav (וְלֹא שָׁתוּ אִישׁ עֶדְיוֹ עָלָיו)
  • vəlo' (וְלֹא): "And not," "And no." A definitive negation, emphasizing the unanimous and complete abstention from adornment.
  • shatu (שָׁתוּ): "They put," "they set." Points to their deliberate choice to not wear their customary finery.
  • ish (אִישׁ): "man," "each person," "anyone." This emphasizes the universality of the action; not a single person wore ornaments. It was a communal act of humiliation and repentance.
  • `edyo (עֶדְיוֹ): "his ornament," "his adornment," "his jewelry," "his finery." These were decorative items that symbolized joy, prosperity, status, and blessing. Stripping them off was an outward sign of profound humiliation, sorrow, unworthiness, and deep penitence. It was a renunciation of pride and outward beauty in a time of corporate grief and contrition for sin.
  • `alav (עָלָיו): "upon him," "on him." Simply clarifies that the ornaments would be worn on their person.

• "When the people heard these harsh words, they mourned": This segment connects the reception of a distressing divine truth with an immediate and collective emotional/spiritual response. The designation of YHWH's decree as "harsh/calamitous" indicates that the Israelites recognized the severe consequences of His refusal to accompany them personally, thus understanding the depth of His displeasure with their recent sin. Their corporate mourning underscores the impact of God's holiness and justice.
• "and no one put on his ornaments": This phrase highlights a culturally profound, unanimous act of public humiliation and contrition. The stripping away of ornaments, symbolic of pride, joy, and earthly attachment, signified their absolute devotion to a state of mourning and a desperate plea for divine mercy. It reflects a shift from superficial displays to a recognition of their profound unworthiness before God, demonstrating an understanding that divine presence was infinitely more valuable than any outward show or material wealth.

Exodus 33 4 Bonus section

• Theological Weight of "Presence": The Israelites' reaction in Exo 33:4 underscores the absolute theological centrality of God's personal presence (`face` in Exo 33:14) for ancient Israel's well-being and identity. The threat of His absence was viewed as existential doom, revealing that their deepest longing was not for the land per se, but for the God who leads to it.
• A Precursor to God's Command: Interestingly, the people's spontaneous act of removing their ornaments (Exo 33:4) is followed immediately by YHWH's direct command for them to do so as a test of their response (Exo 33:5). This indicates a divine alignment with their natural reaction, suggesting a partial movement toward repentance even before a specific instruction. Their action demonstrates an immediate, albeit initial, softening of their "stiff neck."
• Contrast with the Golden Calf: The gold from the ornaments used for the calf (Exo 32:2-4) had become an object of idolatry. Their removal of ornaments in Exo 33:4 can therefore be seen as a symbolic cleansing, stripping away remnants of their past sin and associated pride, moving from material display back to spiritual humility.
• Adornment in Ancient Israel: Ornaments could also include special garments. Removing them reflected extreme distress and a total surrender of appearance and status. This mirrored internal turmoil and an appeal for divine compassion by expressing utmost humility and self-abasement.

Exodus 33 4 Commentary

Exodus 33:4 portrays the raw and desperate response of the Israelite community to YHWH's declaration of limited accompaniment. Having recently witnessed divine power and then terribly failed, they understood that YHWH's decision to withhold His personal, glorious presence (due to their "stiff-necked" nature) was a calamity worse than any physical threat. Their "mourning" signifies profound grief, fear of divine judgment, and a dawning awareness of their deep sin. The immediate, unanimous act of stripping off "ornaments" was a powerful cultural signal. These adornments, once symbols of blessing and beauty, or perhaps even pagan pride, were renounced as the people humbled themselves. It symbolized a renunciation of worldly attachment and pride in a desperate plea for reconciliation with God, acknowledging that true blessing lay solely in His presence. This voluntary act of abasement foreshadowed YHWH's explicit command for them to humble themselves further (Exo 33:5-6), illustrating that genuine repentance often precedes a fuller experience of divine grace. Their mourning was a step towards a renewed relationship, as YHWH sought humility from them.