Exodus 34:29 kjv
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Exodus 34:29 nkjv
Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses' hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
Exodus 34:29 niv
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.
Exodus 34:29 esv
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
Exodus 34:29 nlt
When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn't aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD.
Exodus 34 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 34:1 | The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words..." | God renews covenant and commands new tablets. |
| Exo 34:28 | Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights... He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant. | Context of Moses' direct communion and law writing. |
| Exo 33:20-23 | “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me and live.” ... I will put you in the cleft of the rock... | God's veiled revelation of glory to Moses. |
| Num 12:8 | With him I speak face to face... Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses? | God confirms unique, direct communication with Moses. |
| Deut 4:13 | He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow... | The Law given as the covenant's core. |
| Deut 5:22 | These words the Lord spoke... and he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. | Moses' role in receiving and bearing the Law. |
| Isa 60:1 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." | Prophecy of God's glory shining on His people. |
| Ps 34:5 | Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. | Believers reflect God's light when beholding Him. |
| Matt 17:2 | There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. | Christ's face radiating divine glory at the Transfiguration. |
| 2 Cor 3:7 | Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory... | Old Covenant glory was Moses' radiating face. |
| 2 Cor 3:11 | For if what was fading away came with glory, how much more glorious is that which lasts! | Compares the fading glory of the Old Covenant with the surpassing glory of the New. |
| 2 Cor 3:13 | We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing... | Moses covered his face because the glory faded. |
| 2 Cor 3:16 | But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. | Direct access to God's glory in the New Covenant. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image... | Believers are progressively transformed by gazing upon Christ's glory. |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son. | Christ embodies full divine glory permanently. |
| Heb 1:3 | The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being... | Jesus as the ultimate and continuous radiance of God's glory. |
| Rom 8:29 | For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... | Believers are predestined to reflect Christ's image/glory. |
| Rom 12:2 | Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... | Spiritual transformation through communion. |
| 1 John 3:2 | Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known... | Hope of future perfect likeness to Christ in glory. |
| Ps 84:11 | For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold... | God as the source of light and blessing. |
Exodus 34 verses
Exodus 34 29 Meaning
Exodus 34:29 describes Moses' appearance as he descended Mount Sinai for the second time, carrying the two tablets of the covenant law. His face radiated divine glory due to his prolonged direct communion with the Lord. Significantly, Moses himself was unaware of this visible transformation, underscoring that the radiance was a spontaneous overflow of God's presence, not a display of personal attainment. This radiant countenance served as a physical manifestation of God's glory reflected through His chosen mediator, authenticating the divine origin of the Law and Moses' authority.
Exodus 34 29 Context
Exodus 34:29 immediately follows Moses' second forty-day, forty-night period on Mount Sinai. This significant ascent occurred after the devastating incident of the golden calf, where the Israelites broke the first covenant by worshipping an idol. Despite this profound transgression, God, demonstrating His abundant mercy and steadfast love (Exo 34:6-7), instructed Moses to hew new tablets so that He could rewrite the Ten Commandments. During this second forty-day encounter, Moses fasted and communicated directly with God, mediating a renewed covenant between the Lord and Israel. The radiance of Moses' face upon descent therefore served as an undeniable, visible testament to the efficacy of God's grace and forgiveness, His re-affirmation of the covenant, and the divine authority vested in Moses as His chosen intermediary. It emphasized the awesome and transforming power of direct communion with the Holy God.
Exodus 34 29 Word analysis
- When Moses came down: Signifies the culmination of a period of divine communion. Moses, the mediator, descends from God's presence to humanity.
- from Mount Sinai: The holy mountain, the place of God's self-revelation, covenant, and Law-giving (Theophany). It represents the direct encounter point between God and His people's representative.
- with the two tablets of the covenant law: Not the broken tablets, but the newly written ones (Exo 34:1). These symbolize the renewed covenant, God's enduring Word, and His faithfulness despite Israel's sin. They are the tangible proof of God's interaction with humanity.
- in his hands: Moses personally carried the weight and significance of the Law, serving as the bearer of divine decree to the people.
- he was not aware: From the Hebrew "lo' yada" (לֹא יָדַע), meaning "he did not know" or "was not conscious." This highlights Moses' humility and self-forgetfulness in the divine presence. The radiance was a passive effect, solely from God, not from any self-effort or deliberate action by Moses. This directly counters pagan deities who often generated their own perceived power or glory.
- that his face was radiant: The Hebrew word is "qaran" (קָרַן), which is a denominative verb derived from "qeren" (קֶרֶן), meaning "horn" or "ray of light/brightness." In this context, given the overwhelming divine presence Moses experienced, the meaning "to emit rays, to shine" is theologically fitting and contextually superior. The radiant light was a direct, visible consequence of Moses having stood in God's presence, reflecting God's own glory (compare Exo 33:18-23). This visual manifestation validated the divine origin of the Law and Moses' authority. It signifies a profound, transformative encounter.
- because he had spoken with the Lord: This phrase identifies the immediate and direct cause of the radiance. The transformation of Moses' face was a direct result of intimate, personal communion with Yahweh. It emphasizes the power of being in God's presence and engaging in deep spiritual conversation with Him, an ultimate experience of divine revelation and fellowship.
Exodus 34 29 Bonus section
The Septuagint (ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) translates "qaran" as "dedoxastai" (δεδόξασται), meaning "was glorified" or "made glorious." The Latin Vulgate (St. Jerome's translation), however, translated "qaran" as "cornuta erat," meaning "was horned." This translation profoundly influenced Western art, leading to iconic depictions of a "horned Moses," most famously Michelangelo's statue. The "horn" meaning typically referred to "power" or "strength," and here it would represent divine authority or strength manifested as emanating rays. The original Hebrew word encompasses both concepts (light rays, horns) due to ancient linguistic associations, but the context overwhelmingly supports "radiance" as a direct outcome of encountering God's brilliant presence. The ephemeral nature of Moses' glory, though stunning, stands in stark contrast to the permanent, inherent glory of Jesus Christ and the lasting transformation experienced by New Covenant believers who behold the Lord with unveiled faces (2 Cor 3). Moses' glory, though significant, was external and fading, demonstrating the limits of the Old Covenant's mediator and his ministry, setting the stage for the more glorious and lasting New Covenant established in Christ.
Exodus 34 29 Commentary
Exodus 34:29 is a pivotal verse highlighting the transformative power of God's presence. Moses, a faithful mediator, bears not only the rewritten covenant law but also the visible imprint of divine glory. The radiance on his face, stemming from intimate conversation with the Lord, authenticates his authority and the divine origin of the commandments. Moses' unawareness underscores his humility; the glory was God's, flowing through him, rather than an achievement of his own. This event foreshadows New Testament truths about spiritual transformation (2 Cor 3:18) and points to Christ as the ultimate revelation of God's glory (Heb 1:3), whose glory does not fade. Moses' radiance, while temporary, served as a profound witness to a covenanting God who remains faithful despite human failure, and who desires to reveal Himself to His people.