Exodus 34:4 kjv
And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
Exodus 34:4 nkjv
So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones. Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone.
Exodus 34:4 niv
So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.
Exodus 34:4 esv
So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone.
Exodus 34:4 nlt
So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.
Exodus 34 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 34:1 | "The LORD said to Moses, 'Cut for yourself two tablets of stone...'" | Direct command leading to Exod 34:4. |
| Exod 32:15-19 | "As soon as he came near the camp... Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them..." | Context: The breaking of the first tablets due to idolatry. |
| Deut 10:1-5 | "At that time the LORD said to me, 'Cut for yourself two tablets of stone...'" | Parallel account emphasizing God's command to remake the tablets and re-write the Law. |
| 2 Cor 3:3 | "...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." | Contrasts old covenant on stone with new covenant on hearts. |
| 2 Cor 3:7-8 | "Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory..." | Highlights the glory, yet temporary nature, of the old covenant. |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." | Promise of a new covenant with the Law internalized. |
| Heb 8:6-13 | "But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent... mediated a better covenant..." | Expounds on Jer 31, pointing to Christ's superior new covenant. |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Jesus' affirmation of the enduring validity and fulfillment of the Law. |
| Ps 119:97 | "Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day." | Delight in God's Law. |
| Prov 3:1 | "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments." | Importance of remembering and keeping God's commands. |
| Rom 2:14-15 | "They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts..." | Innate moral awareness of God's Law. |
| Exod 19:20 | "The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain..." | Sinai as the place of divine manifestation. |
| Exod 24:18 | "Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights." | Previous ascents and duration of divine encounters. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "...Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..." | Emphasis on obedience over ritual. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Link between love for God and obedience. |
| Gen 22:3 | "So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey..." | Example of rising early indicating prompt obedience and significant action. |
| Exod 8:20 | "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh...'" | Another instance of rising early for divine instructions/missions. |
| Ezra 7:10 | "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach his statutes..." | Example of devoted engagement with God's Law. |
| Ps 1:2 | "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." | Blessedness of devotion to God's Law. |
| Exod 33:17 | "And the LORD said to Moses, 'This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight...'" | God's continued favor upon Moses, preceding covenant renewal. |
| Exod 34:5-7 | "The LORD descended in the cloud... 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious...'" | God's self-revelation immediately after Moses' obedience and preparation. |
| Heb 9:4 | "...the ark of the covenant, which contained the golden urn... and the tablets of the covenant." | Location and significance of the tablets within the tabernacle/temple. |
Exodus 34 verses
Exodus 34 4 Meaning
Exodus 34:4 details Moses' prompt and obedient actions following the LORD's command to replace the tablets of the covenant after the initial ones were broken due to Israel's sin. It describes Moses diligently cutting two new stone tablets, identical to the first, and his dedicated ascent of Mount Sinai early in the morning, taking these prepared tablets with him. This act signifies divine grace in renewing the covenant and Moses' faithful mediation and preparation for a renewed encounter with God's presence and Law.
Exodus 34 4 Context
Exodus chapter 34 serves as a pivotal passage following the disastrous golden calf incident in Exodus 32. After Moses shattered the first tablets (representing the broken covenant due to Israel's idolatry) and intensely interceded for the people in Exodus 33, God commands Moses to prepare new stone tablets. Exodus 34:4 describes Moses' immediate and detailed obedience to this command, setting the stage for God's gracious re-establishment of the covenant, symbolized by the re-writing of the Ten Commandments. Historically, this renewal demonstrated God's covenant faithfulness and mercy despite human transgression, contrasting His enduring nature with the fleeting, man-made idols of the surrounding cultures. It affirmed that the relationship, though strained, was not irrevocably severed.
Exodus 34 4 Word analysis
- So Moses: Indicates a direct response to the preceding command (Exod 34:1). Moses acts as the divinely appointed mediator, faithfully carrying out God's will.
- cut: The Hebrew verb is vayyifsōl (וַיִּפְסֹל), meaning "to cut," "to hew," or "to carve." Unlike the first set of tablets, which were "the work of God" (Exod 32:16), Moses now actively prepares the physical medium. This signifies human responsibility and cooperation in the covenant process, although the divine writing remains God's prerogative.
- two tablets of stone: Luḥōt ʼăvānîm (לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים). "Tablets of stone" represents the physical, enduring medium of God's unchangeable Law. The duality of "two" refers to one for each part of the covenant (God's responsibilities and Israel's responsibilities, or perhaps a set for each party).
- like the first ones: Kārī'šōnîm (כָּרִאשֹׁנִים). This phrase emphasizes continuity. Despite the broken covenant, God's standards and commands remain unchanged. The new tablets must conform precisely to the original divine design.
- And he rose early in the morning: A common Biblical idiom signifying urgency, dedication, and readiness for a significant undertaking or divine appointment (e.g., Abraham in Gen 22:3, Pharaoh being met by Moses in Exod 8:20). It shows Moses' diligence and prompt obedience.
- and went up on Mount Sinai: Sinai is the sacred mountain, the unique location where God established His covenant with Israel and revealed His Law. Moses' ascent signifies returning to the place of divine encounter and covenant establishment.
- as the LORD had commanded him: This phrase underscores Moses' obedience. The renewal of the covenant is based entirely on God's initiative and specific instructions. "LORD" (Yahweh) refers to the personal, covenant God of Israel.
- and took in his hand: Implies preparation and readiness to present the tablets to the LORD for divine inscription. Moses is fully equipped for the task ahead.
- the two tablets of stone: A final confirmation of the crucial items Moses carries for the covenant's restoration.
Exodus 34 4 Bonus section
While Moses "cut" these new tablets, it's explicitly stated in Exodus 34:1 and Deuteronmy 10:2 that the LORD Himself would write the words of the covenant on them, just as He had on the first set (Exod 34:1; Deut 10:2, 4). This subtly highlights that while humanity has a role in preparing for God's revelation, the ultimate authority and content of God's Word come directly from Him, not from human wisdom or crafting. The stone as a medium itself signifies permanence and resistance to decay, mirroring the eternal and unchanging nature of God's Law and His covenant promises.
Exodus 34 4 Commentary
Exodus 34:4 captures Moses' crucial act of faithful obedience in the wake of national failure. It demonstrates that while the covenant had been broken by Israel's sin (symbolized by the shattering of the first tablets), God, in His boundless grace, initiated its renewal. Moses' diligence in "cutting" the tablets highlights human responsibility and preparedness in engaging with God's redemptive work, even though the content and authority of the Law remain entirely divine. His "rising early" and ascending "Mount Sinai" underscores his earnest dedication and the gravity of the renewed encounter with the Holy God. This verse is not just a procedural detail; it's a testament to God's restorative love, Moses' mediatorial commitment, and the enduring nature of the divine commandments, even amidst human brokenness.