Exodus 34:31 kjv
And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
Exodus 34:31 nkjv
Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them.
Exodus 34:31 niv
But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them.
Exodus 34:31 esv
But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.
Exodus 34:31 nlt
But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them.
Exodus 34 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 34:29-30 | And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai... Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone... And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses... the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. | Immediate context of Moses' radiant face. |
| Exod 33:11 | And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. | Divine intimacy as source of radiance. |
| Num 12:8 | With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches... | Direct communication between God and Moses. |
| Exod 19:16 | And it came to pass... there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud... and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. | Fear and awe in God's presence. |
| Exod 19:21-24 | And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish... | Boundary for holiness and the danger of approach. |
| Lev 9:24 | And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar... which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. | People's reaction to divine manifestation. |
| 1 Sam 7:19 | ...who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? | Acknowledging God's awesome holiness. |
| 2 Cor 3:7 | But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance... | Contrasts old covenant glory (Moses' face) with greater new covenant glory. |
| 2 Cor 3:8 | How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? | The superior glory of the Holy Spirit. |
| 2 Cor 3:10 | For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. | Old covenant glory diminishes in light of new covenant. |
| 2 Cor 3:13 | And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: | Moses' veil concealing the fading glory. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. | Believers reflect the Lord's glory increasingly. |
| Matt 17:2 | And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. | Jesus' transfiguration as a parallel of divine radiance. |
| Mk 9:6 | For they knew not what to say; for they were sore afraid. | Disciples' fear during Transfiguration. |
| Lk 9:29 | And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening. | Luke's account of Jesus' transformed appearance. |
| Lk 5:8 | When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. | Acknowledging sinfulness in divine presence. |
| Acts 6:15 | And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. | Stephen's face reflecting divine approval/glory. |
| Rom 8:18 | For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. | Future glory awaiting believers. |
| Phil 3:21 | Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. | Transformation of believers into glorious bodies. |
| Heb 12:21 | And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake: | Moses' own fear in God's presence at Sinai. |
| Rev 1:16 | And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. | John's vision of glorified Christ, radiating light. |
Exodus 34 verses
Exodus 34 31 Meaning
Exodus 34:31 describes the immediate reaction of Aaron and the Israelites to Moses upon his descent from Mount Sinai after his second forty-day encounter with the Lord. They observed that the skin of Moses' face emitted light, a divine radiance. This sight filled them with a profound sense of awe and fear, causing them to hesitate and be unable to approach him. The shining face was a visible sign of his direct communion with God and the divine glory reflected upon him.
Exodus 34 31 Context
Exodus chapter 34 details Moses' second forty-day stay on Mount Sinai after the first set of covenant tablets was broken due to Israel's sin of the golden calf. God, in His grace, renews the covenant, reiterating the Ten Commandments and other statutes, particularly those related to worship and separation from pagan practices. This verse occurs immediately after Moses descends with the new tablets, having been in the direct presence of the Lord. The radiance on Moses' face is a physical manifestation of God's glory reflected on His chosen mediator, symbolizing the unique intimacy Moses shared with the Divine. Historically and culturally, this moment serves as a profound confirmation of Moses' divine appointment as Israel's leader and law-giver, distinguishing the covenant of Yahweh from the deities and religious practices of surrounding nations, which often lacked such a direct, tangible divine encounter with a human intermediary. It establishes Yahweh as a living, active God who communes with His servants.
Exodus 34 31 Word analysis
- And Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses:
- This highlights that the visible manifestation of divine glory was undeniable and witnessed by the entire community, confirming Moses' special status.
- and, behold,:
- This interjection, "behold" (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hinnēh), is an emphatic particle drawing attention to a new or surprising revelation. It signifies that what they saw was striking and unexpected.
- the skin of his face shone:
- Skin: (עוֹר, ‘ôr): Refers to the physical surface of his face. The divine glory directly impacted his physical being.
- Face: (פָּנִים, pānîm): A plural noun used singularly, literally "faces" but signifying the "presence" or "countenance." It implies direct exposure to God's presence, as God often reveals Himself "face to face."
- Shone: (קָרַן, qāran): This verb means "to emit rays," "to shine forth," or "to be horned." The primary meaning intended here, supported by the context and scholarly consensus, is that his face was radiant or emitted rays of light. The Latin Vulgate's translation as cornuta ("horned") is an ancient misinterpretation that led to iconic imagery, but the Hebrew context points to brightness. This shining is a direct result of being in the immediate presence of the glory of Yahweh (Exod 33:18-23). It underscores that Moses was not inherently glorious, but reflected the glory of God.
- and they were afraid:
- Afraid: (יָרֵא, yārē’): This denotes both fear and awe, a profound reverence mixed with terror. This fear is a natural response to the overwhelming holiness and power of God, indirectly seen through Moses. It's the "fear of the Lord" that leads to wisdom (Prov 9:10).
- to come nigh him:
- Indicates a spatial and relational distance created by the manifestation of holiness. The Israelites, as sinful beings, were inherently unable to approach divine glory without preparation or mediation, a consistent theme in Exodus (e.g., Exod 19).
Exodus 34 31 Bonus section
The concept of a radiant human figure, while appearing in Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) art, often depicted deities or divinely imbued kings who possessed inherent divinity. In the Exodus narrative, Moses' radiance is not inherent; it is reflected from God's presence. This subtle yet critical distinction underscores the unique monotheistic theology of Israel, where only Yahweh is intrinsically glorious, and humans, even the most righteous, are only conduits of that glory. The ephemeral nature of Moses' shining face (requiring the veil and subsequent fading, as discussed in later scripture) further emphasizes that it was a transient external effect, contrasting with the eternal and internal transformation offered by Christ.
Exodus 34 31 Commentary
Exodus 34:31 is a pivotal moment illustrating the awesome nature of divine glory and its profound effect on humanity. Moses' radiant face, a direct consequence of his intimate communion with God on Sinai, served as an undeniable, visible testimony to his divine commission and the tangible reality of God's presence among His people. The people's reaction of fear was a holy awe, recognizing the immense power and holiness that separated them from God and even His divinely-touched mediator. This temporary and fading glory on Moses' face, as illuminated in 2 Corinthians 3, serves as a significant contrast to the enduring and transformative glory accessible through Christ in the New Covenant, where believers themselves can reflect His glory increasingly through the indwelling Spirit. It underscores the profound truth that proximity to God's holiness elicits awe and necessitates mediation, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.