Exodus 34 33

Exodus 34:33 kjv

And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

Exodus 34:33 nkjv

And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.

Exodus 34:33 niv

When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.

Exodus 34:33 esv

And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Exodus 34:33 nlt

When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 33 Meaning

Exodus 34:33 describes Moses, immediately after communicating God's words to the Israelites, placing a veil upon his face. This action stemmed from the awe-inspiring, luminous glory that emanated from his face as a direct result of his intimate communion with God on Mount Sinai. The veil served both to shield the people from the overwhelming divine radiance and to manage their reaction to such glory.

Exodus 34 33 Context

Exodus 34 follows the catastrophic Golden Calf incident (Exod 32), where Israel broke the first covenant. Chapters 33-34 depict God's gracious renewal of the covenant, mediated by Moses. Moses spent another forty days and nights on Mount Sinai with the LORD (Exod 34:28), during which he received a second set of tablets. When he descended, his face literally glowed from being in God's immediate, unhindered presence (Exod 34:29). This radiance was so intense that the Israelites, including Aaron, were afraid to come near him (Exod 34:30). Moses had to call them near to deliver the commandments. Verse 33 describes Moses' specific action after speaking God's words, providing the immediate context for his decision to wear the veil. Subsequent verses (Exod 34:34-35) further clarify his use of the veil, showing he removed it when speaking with God and put it back on when speaking to the people.

Exodus 34 33 Word analysis

• And when Moses (וּכְכַלּוֹת מֹשֶׁה - U-khe-challōth Mōsheh): The conjunction "And" connects this action directly to the previous events of Moses descending from Sinai and speaking with the people. "When Moses had finished" indicates the completion of a specific task – delivering the divine message. This timing is crucial; the veil was donned after the words were spoken, not while he was speaking them.
• had finished speaking (לְדַבֵּר אִתָּם - lĕdabbēr ʼittām): "Speaking with them" refers to the act of Moses communicating God's commands, statutes, and judgments to the entire congregation of Israel, as detailed in the preceding verses. It underscores his role as God's appointed prophet and mediator. The lamed preposition suggests the purpose or action of "to speak."
• he put (וַיִּתֵּן - wayyitten): This is a simple, direct Hebrew verb for "to give" or "to place." It denotes an intentional action by Moses to cover his face.
• a veil (מַסְוֶה - masveh): This is the central, most significant word in the verse. The Hebrew term masveh specifically denotes a covering or a veil, derived from a root meaning "to hide" or "to conceal." It's unique to this context in the Old Testament, though its concept resonates with other forms of covering used for sacredness or protection (e.g., the veil in the tabernacle, Exod 26:31). Its purpose here is debated: to protect the people from the intensity of the glory, or to conceal the fading of that glory (as argued by Paul in 2 Cor 3). The masveh becomes a potent symbol of separation, a physical barrier, and later, in the New Testament, a spiritual one.
• on his face (עַל־פָּנָיו - ʻal-pānāyw): This prepositional phrase explicitly states where the veil was placed. The face (panim) is the seat of revelation, personality, and emotion. The radiance of Moses' face was the outward manifestation of his divine encounter. Covering it indicates the direct interaction between divine glory and human fragility, or the transient nature of that Old Covenant glory.

Words-group analysis:

• "When Moses had finished speaking with them": This phrase highlights Moses' immediate action following his divinely appointed task of delivering the covenant details. It implies a natural consequence or necessary follow-up to his encounter with God and his duty to Israel. The veil is not for while he delivers the message, but afterwards.
• "he put a veil on his face": This describes the precise action and its direct recipient. The placement on the face points directly to the radiating glory (Exod 34:29-30) that necessitated the covering. This act immediately separates him from the people visually, though he has just concluded speaking to them.

Exodus 34 33 Bonus section

• Ambiguity in Jewish Tradition: Some early Jewish traditions held that Moses' glory never diminished, suggesting the veil was solely to protect the people. However, the New Testament interpretation strongly suggests the glory was fading.
• Contrast with Priesthood: Moses' glory was a direct reflection from his face-to-face communion with God, contrasting with the High Priest who entered the Most Holy Place yearly, separated by the veil, representing indirect access. In Christ, that final temple veil was torn, signifying direct access for all believers.
• Symbolism of Transparency: Moses’ act symbolizes a necessary opacity in the Old Covenant administration due to sin and the Law's limitations. In the New Covenant, with the veil of the temple torn (Matt 27:51), access and vision are made open and unveiled through Christ, reflecting God’s desire for direct communion.

Exodus 34 33 Commentary

Exodus 34:33 records Moses' deliberate act of covering his radiant face with a veil after concluding his address to the Israelites. This act is pivotal for several reasons. Primarily, it addresses the people's understandable fear and awe provoked by the tangible manifestation of divine glory shining from Moses (Exod 34:30). His face was an unmediated reflection of the LORD's presence, which was overwhelming for the people who stood afar, burdened by their sin and separation from God. The veil allowed continued interaction and leadership without paralyzing terror.

Theological depth is added to this verse primarily through Paul's interpretation in 2 Corinthians 3. Paul asserts that the veil did not just shield the people, but it also obscured the fading nature of the Old Covenant's glory. While Moses' glory was genuine, it was temporary and dim in comparison to the eternal glory of the New Covenant in Christ. The veil thus became a symbol of the spiritual blindness that prevented the Israelites from grasping the transient character of the Law and its ministry of condemnation. In Christ, this veil is removed, allowing believers to behold the surpassing glory of God, leading to transformation from glory to glory. This understanding elevates the Old Testament narrative to profound Christological significance, demonstrating the superiority and accessibility of God's presence through Jesus.