Exodus 33 8

Exodus 33:8 kjv

And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

Exodus 33:8 nkjv

So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle.

Exodus 33:8 niv

And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.

Exodus 33:8 esv

Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.

Exodus 33:8 nlt

Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside.

Exodus 33 verses

Exodus 33 8 Meaning

Exodus 33:8 describes a poignant scene where, as Moses leaves the camp to go to the Tent of Meeting situated outside, the entire Israelite congregation collectively rises and stands at their tent doors, fixatedly watching him until he enters the sacred enclosure. This act demonstrates the people's reverence for Moses' unique role as intercessor and their recognition of his singular access to God, especially after their sin with the Golden Calf.

Exodus 33 8 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the profound crisis of the Golden Calf idolatry (Exod 32). In response to Israel's rebellion, God had expressed His intention to withdraw His direct, immanent presence from among them, opting instead to send an angel. Moses interceded passionately for the people (Exod 32:11-14, 33:12-16). As a symbolic and practical measure, Moses moved his own tent, referred to as "the Tent of Meeting" ('ohel mo'ed), outside the camp (Exod 33:7). This act underscored God's temporary withdrawal and the need for purification before contact. Thus, Exodus 33:8 depicts the visible consequence of this decision: Moses, the singular mediator, is now the bridge to God, and the people watch his unique access with a mix of apprehension, longing, and deference, keenly aware of their distance from a holy God due to their recent sin.

Exodus 33 8 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וְהָיָה - wehāyâ): A common Hebrew narrative marker, indicating a sequential event or a shift in focus, often introducing something significant about to occur. It sets the scene.
• when Moses went out (בְּצֵאת מֹשֶׁה - bᵊtsēt mōsheh): Emphasizes Moses' initiative and singular action. The preformative 'b' denotes 'when' or 'at the going out of'.
• unto the tabernacle (אֶל הָאֹהֶל - ʾel hāʾōhel): Here referring specifically to the temporary "tent of meeting" that Moses had pitched outside the camp (Exo 33:7), distinct from the full Tabernacle construction detailed later in Exodus, which had not yet been fully built or set up for divine use within the camp. The use of the definite article ha- suggests it was already recognized as the significant tent.
• that all the people (כָּל הָעָם - kōl hāʿām): Denotes the entire Israelite community. It signifies a unanimous, collective reaction, emphasizing the universal awareness of Moses' action and its implications.
• rose up (קָמוּ - qāmū): From the root qûm, meaning to rise or stand. This action indicates reverence, respect, or a posture of readiness and attentiveness in the presence of someone important or during a significant event.
• and stood (וְעָמְדוּ - wᵊʿāmᵊḏū): From the root ʿāmad, meaning to stand. Reinforces the action of rising; they didn't just stand up for a moment but remained standing.
• every man (אִישׁ - ʾîš): Emphasizes individuality within the collective. Each person consciously and deliberately participates in this act of observance.
• at his tent door (פֶּתַח אָהֳלוֹ - peṯaḥ ʾāholō): This specifies their location: at the opening of their individual dwelling tents. It implies they stepped out from their privacy to witness this public moment, showing the universality and seriousness of their attention. The tent door represents the threshold between their private life and the public, visible sphere of the camp.
• and looked after Moses (וְהִבִּיטוּ אַחֲרֵי מֹשֶׁה - wəhiḇḇîṭū ʾaḥarê mōsheh): Wehibbîṭû from nābāṭ signifies gazing, looking intently, fixing one's gaze, rather than a casual glance. ʾaḥarê means "after," indicating they were watching his progress as he walked away from them. This focused observation expresses their dependency, anticipation, and yearning for divine connection mediated through him.
• until he was gone into the tabernacle (עַד בֹּאוֹ הָאֹהֶלָה - ʿaḏ bōʾō hāʾōhelāh): Their gaze was sustained, not stopping until Moses had completely entered the tent. This signifies the duration and intensity of their collective watchfulness, implying a sense of completion in the act of seeing him enter.

Exodus 33 8 Bonus section

The act of the people rising and standing to observe Moses going to the Tent of Meeting suggests an element of awe mixed with profound relief and perhaps even fear. Their collective posture of respectful attention serves as a visible demonstration of the renewed gravity with which they approached matters concerning God's presence, having just experienced divine judgment. It emphasizes the concept of vicarious access to God: because the nation could not approach God due to their sin, Moses did so on their behalf. This scenario highlights the crucial necessity of mediation in the Old Covenant and implicitly points to the future need for a perfect mediator. The distance of the Tent of Meeting, formerly within the camp as initially intended (implied by the future design of the Tabernacle's placement in the camp), now signifies God's holiness apart from a sinful people, reinforcing His transcendence and the boundaries He set.

Exodus 33 8 Commentary

Exodus 33:8 portrays a deeply symbolic moment following Israel's catastrophic sin with the Golden Calf. The removal of the Tent of Meeting outside the camp signifies a visible distance between a holy God and His defiled people. Moses' walk to this tent, therefore, becomes a focal point of Israel's hope and fear. Their unified act of rising and standing at their tent doors, fixatedly watching Moses until he disappears into the tent, is not mere curiosity. It is an acknowledgment of their own unworthiness to approach God directly, their complete reliance on Moses as their intercessor, and a profound yearning for reconciliation and the divine presence they had forfeited. This public display underscores Moses' unique role as the covenant mediator and prophet through whom God would communicate with His people, reminding them of both the consequences of sin and the mercy found through God's appointed representative. This temporary system foreshadows the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ, who perfectly bridges the gap between God and humanity, offering direct access to all who believe.