Exodus 34 34

Exodus 34:34 kjv

But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.

Exodus 34:34 nkjv

But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded.

Exodus 34:34 niv

But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,

Exodus 34:34 esv

Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,

Exodus 34:34 nlt

But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him,

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 34 Meaning

Exodus 34:34 describes Moses' unique ritual practice when interacting with the Lord following the second giving of the Ten Commandments. It highlights that whenever Moses entered the divine presence in the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil from his face. This allowed for unhindered communion. Upon returning from God's presence to the Israelite camp, he would immediately reapply the veil to his face. This action served to shield the reflected glory of the Lord, which radiated from Moses' face, from the fearful eyes of the people.

Exodus 34 34 Context

Exodus chapter 34 describes the renewal of the covenant after the Israelites' idolatry with the golden calf. Moses, as the mediator, once again ascends Mount Sinai, where God reveals His character (Ex 34:6-7) and reinstates the covenant commands. During this period, Moses is in such profound and direct communion with the Lord that his face emits a radiant glory, an intense reflection of the divine presence (Ex 34:29). This glory was so overwhelming that the Israelites were afraid to approach him. In this immediate context, verses 33 and 34 explain Moses' practice regarding the veil. Verse 33 notes that Moses put on the veil when he finished speaking to the people, implying he unveiled to speak and then veiled again. Verse 34 clarifies the reverse: he removed the veil when he entered God's presence, allowing full, unmediated communion.

Historically and culturally, ancient peoples often associated powerful, sacred figures with a visible manifestation of divine favor or power. However, the intensity of Yahweh's glory, causing a human face to shine, was unique. The Israelite people, accustomed to gods that could be seen and managed (like the golden calf), were faced with a God whose very reflection on a human being was terrifying and unapproachable without mediation. The veil here served both to protect the people from overwhelming divine radiance and possibly to acknowledge their inability to directly behold God's holiness due to their sinfulness, creating a necessary distance between a holy God and an unholy people. This practice implicitly stood as a polemic against the accessible and tangible idols of surrounding nations, emphasizing the transcendent, yet profoundly present, God of Israel.

Exodus 34 34 Word analysis

• But when Moses went in: Signals a contrasting action or specific circumstance. This phrase introduces the established routine for Moses' access to the Lord.
• before the Lord: Refers to being in the direct presence of Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This denotes a uniquely privileged position of intimacy and mediation.
• to speak with Him: The purpose of Moses' entry into God's presence was for direct communication and receiving divine revelation, underscoring his role as God's chosen messenger and intercessor.
• he would take the veil off: The Hebrew word for "veil" is masveh (מַסְוֶה), found only in Ex 34. It describes a covering used to conceal. Removing it signifies direct, unhindered communion with God. It indicates Moses' capacity and willingness to be fully exposed to the divine presence, without concealment.
• until he came out: This marks the boundary of the direct, unveiled communion. The veiling and unveiling were tied specifically to his transition between God's presence and the people's presence.
• and when he came out: Denotes his re-entry into the camp, returning from divine fellowship to his role as mediator and leader for the people.
• he would put the veil on his face again: This act of reapplying the masveh emphasizes the distinction between the glorious, immediate presence of God and the fearful inability of the people to behold that glory (even reflected). It shielded them from what they could not bear and likely indicated a temporary, diminishing nature of the visible glow from his face for common viewing over time.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him": This entire clause emphasizes Moses' unique access and purpose. It highlights the divine initiative and Moses' receptive, privileged position as a confidant and communicator of God's will to His people.
• "he would take the veil off until he came out; and when he came out, he would put the veil on his face again": This describes a systematic ritual. It establishes a cyclical pattern, signifying the clear boundary between Moses' divine encounter and his public interactions. This repeated action transforms the veil from merely a cover into a profound symbol of the differing levels of revelation and accessibility for Moses versus the rest of Israel. It portrays Moses as an essential, protective filter for God's glory to a people who, because of their sin, could not directly encounter it.

Exodus 34 34 Bonus section

The concept of "glory" (Hebrew: kavod) in this context goes beyond mere light; it speaks to God's inherent weightiness, honor, presence, and manifested majesty. Moses' reflected glory was a tangible sign of the Lord's direct dwelling among His people through His mediator, yet also a stark reminder of their separation due to sin. The recurring nature ("would take," "would put") implies an established custom rather than a singular event, underscoring its significance in Moses' mediatorial service. The temporary and conditional nature of the Old Covenant glory, hidden by a veil, contrasts with the eternal and accessible glory in Christ. The veil can also be seen as a mercy, preventing the people from a direct sight that might lead to death or greater condemnation, much like the restrictions at Sinai. The lifting of this veil through Christ's finished work at the cross and His resurrection removes the legalistic barrier and spiritual blindness, paving a new and living way into the holiest of holies for all who believe (Heb 10:19-20).

Exodus 34 34 Commentary

Exodus 34:34 is pivotal in understanding Moses' distinctive role and the nature of the Old Covenant's interaction with divine glory. Moses removing his veil in God's presence signifies his direct, unparalleled access and face-to-face communion with Yahweh, reflecting a level of intimacy rarely granted to any human. This direct encounter allowed God's radiant glory to imbue Moses' face. The subsequent act of re-veiling his face outside God's presence, among the people, highlights the fearful and condemnatory aspect of God's holiness under the Old Covenant. The people, still under the burden of sin and legal stipulations, could not endure even the reflection of divine glory.

This verse lays foundational imagery for the New Testament's exposition in 2 Corinthians 3, where the apostle Paul deeply interprets the meaning of Moses' veil. Paul clarifies that the veil represented not merely the blinding brilliance of God's glory, but the spiritual blindness of Israel under the Old Covenant. Their hearts were hardened, preventing them from perceiving the true, temporary nature of the Law's glory. Moses' veiled face therefore symbolized the obscurity and passing glory of the Law, contrasting sharply with the abiding, transformative glory available to believers through the New Covenant in Christ. In Christ, the veil is removed, allowing believers, with unveiled faces, to behold the Lord's glory and be continually transformed into His likeness by the Spirit (2 Cor 3:18). Thus, Exodus 34:34 is not just a description of ancient practice but a prophetic shadow, hinting at the full, unveiled access to God granted in Christ.