Exodus 33 5

Exodus 33:5 kjv

For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

Exodus 33:5 nkjv

For the LORD had said to Moses, "Say to the children of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you.' "

Exodus 33:5 niv

For the LORD had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'?"

Exodus 33:5 esv

For the LORD had said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.'"

Exodus 33:5 nlt

For the LORD had told Moses to tell them, "You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you."

Exodus 33 verses

Exodus 33 5 Meaning

Exodus 33:5 reveals a direct command from the LORD to Moses concerning the people of Israel after their severe transgression with the Golden Calf. God's message emphasizes their inherent rebellious nature, describing them as "stiff-necked." Due to their grievous sin, they are instructed to remove their personal adornments as a public demonstration of humility, mourning, and repentance. This act of stripping their ornaments signifies their divestment of pride and their return to a state of unadorned penitence before a holy God, whose very presence is now uncertain among them because of their iniquity. God declares that this act of humility will prompt His decision on how to proceed with them, indicating a period of divine assessment and potential consequence.

Exodus 33 5 Context

Exodus chapter 33 immediately follows the devastating account of the Golden Calf incident in chapter 32, where the Israelites broke the newly formed covenant with the LORD at Mount Sinai by worshiping an idol. God's wrath burned fiercely, and He threatened to destroy the people and start a new nation through Moses. Moses passionately interceded for Israel, appealing to God's covenant promises and His reputation among the nations. While God relented from utter destruction, the consequence was that His glorious presence would not go up with them to the promised land, fearing He would consume them due to their "stiff-necked" nature. Instead, an angel would lead them. The people mourned this devastating news (Exod 33:4). In this immediate aftermath of national repentance, Exodus 33:5 presents God's direct command through Moses, giving them a specific, tangible action – stripping off their ornaments – as a response to their mournful state and an indication of whether God would fully reconcile with them or further severe their relationship. This act was not only a symbol of mourning but a necessary step towards humility and a removal of what might have contributed to their pride and idolatry, making way for a potential return of God's presence.

Exodus 33 5 Word analysis

• For the LORD had said: Emphasizes divine authority and a direct communication, showing God’s initiative in setting conditions for reconciliation.
• LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): God's covenant name, signifying His personal, relational, and unchanging character, despite Israel's changeable behavior. This highlights the covenant-breaking and the holiness of the God with whom they had broken faith.
• Moses: God's chosen mediator and spokesman, demonstrating the necessity of intercession during this critical period.
• Say to the people of Israel: Direct address to the entire community, signifying collective responsibility for their sin.
• You are a stiff-necked people (קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף - qesheh-oreph): This Hebrew idiom literally means "hard of neck," like an ox that resists the yoke. It is a powerful descriptor for extreme stubbornness, disobedience, and rebellion against authority. Here, it signifies their unwillingness to bend to God's will, particularly evident in their swift turning to idolatry after receiving the covenant laws. This phrase becomes a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament, characterizing Israel’s spiritual rebellion against God.
• now therefore (וְעַתָּה - v'attah): A strong connective, signaling an immediate imperative and direct consequence or instruction arising from their state of being "stiff-necked." It calls for decisive action.
• come down from (הוֹרִדוּ - horidu): An imperative verb, "bring down" or "take off." It demands a conscious, intentional act of divestment. This isn't a suggestion but a command requiring public compliance.
• your ornaments (עֶדְיְךָ - edyekha): Refers to personal adornments such as jewelry, rings, necklaces, and other finery. In ancient cultures, such ornaments often symbolized status, wealth, and beauty, but could also be associated with idolatry and pride. For Israel, these likely included spoils from Egypt or items created for personal vanity. Removing them was an act of public humiliation, mourning, and renunciation of pride or worldly attachments that may have fueled their rebellion. This act parallels rituals of mourning where fine garments and jewelry were removed to reflect inward grief.
• that I may know what to do with you (אֵדְעָה מָה־אֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּךְ - ed'ah mah-eh'eseh-lakh): This is an anthropomorphism. God, being omniscient, already "knows" everything. However, in biblical terms, "to know" often implies experiential knowledge, an observable outcome, or a declared decision based on the demonstrated response of humanity. Here, it means God would "perceive" or "determine" His subsequent course of action based on their obedience to this command. It's a conditional statement, where their humility would dictate His mercy or judgment. It signals a test of their true repentance and willingness to submit.

Words-group analysis:

• "You are a stiff-necked people; now therefore come down from your ornaments": This sequence establishes a direct cause and effect. Their stubborn, rebellious nature necessitates a radical act of humility and repentance. The command to strip ornaments directly addresses their inner pride by targeting external display, connecting outward actions with inner disposition.
• "come down from your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you": This phrase highlights divine sovereignty and their conditional fate. The removal of ornaments is not merely an outward ritual but an indicator of the sincerity of their contrition, upon which God's subsequent action (judgment, mercy, reconciliation, or continued separation) hinges. It underscores the urgency and severity of their situation.

Exodus 33 5 Bonus section

The removal of ornaments also served as a means of collective cleansing, distinguishing the people from their recent paganistic practices with the Golden Calf, which was often adorned. This act thus also represented a symbolic purging of all vestiges connected to their idolatrous folly and a return to a simpler, less self-glorifying posture before God. In doing so, they acknowledged their status as the unadorned people of God, utterly dependent on His grace and mercy rather than any earthly display or power. This vulnerability, expressed through humility, paved the way for the further revelations of God’s covenant renewal and the unveiling of His character (Exod 34:6-7), showing how a period of stripped-down repentance can lead to deeper spiritual encounter.

Exodus 33 5 Commentary

Exodus 33:5 delivers God's profound expectation of true repentance from His covenant people after their grave betrayal. The command to remove ornaments is not trivial; it serves as a powerful symbol. It demands that the Israelites publicly strip themselves of pride and any physical representation of their worldly affections or perhaps even idolatrous tendencies. In a culture where adornment signified status and often devotion (to any god), divestment signified humiliation and submission. This act was a corporate confession of shame and an expression of mourning for their sin and the potential loss of God's intimate presence.

God's statement, "that I may know what to do with you," is crucial. It’s not that God lacked foreknowledge, but rather He was waiting for a genuine, demonstrable change in the people's heart, evidenced by their outward actions of humility and obedience. This was a critical test of their sincerity following their initial outburst of mourning (Exod 33:4). Their willingness to abandon external displays of status and self-importance would demonstrate their earnestness to restore their relationship with a holy God. This verse therefore underscores the theological principle that outward acts of repentance, when stemming from a truly contrite heart, are crucial in demonstrating a change of will and seeking divine favor. It also reveals God’s gracious willingness to respond to genuine human repentance, even in the face of profound sin, setting the stage for Moses’ continued intercession and God’s revelation of His glory and mercy in the following verses.