Exodus 34:5 kjv
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
Exodus 34:5 nkjv
Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
Exodus 34:5 niv
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD.
Exodus 34:5 esv
The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
Exodus 34:5 nlt
Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.
Exodus 34 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:13 | She called the name of the LORD... "You are a God who sees." | God reveals aspects of His name/character. |
| Exo 3:13-15 | "I AM WHO I AM"... "YHWH... This is My name forever." | God reveals His foundational covenant name. |
| Exo 13:21-22 | The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud... | God's presence, guidance, and dwelling in a cloud. |
| Exo 16:10 | ...the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. | God's glory often manifests in a cloud. |
| Exo 19:9 | The LORD said to Moses, "I am coming to you in a thick cloud." | God's approach for revelation to Moses. |
| Exo 19:16 | ...there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain. | God's formidable presence at Sinai. |
| Exo 24:15-18 | ...the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai... the cloud covered it. | Cloud as a veil for God's glory. |
| Exo 33:9-11 | ...the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance... | God's personal meetings with Moses in the cloud. |
| Num 10:35-36 | "Arise, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered..." | Invoking God's name for divine presence and power. |
| Deut 4:7 | ...what great nation has a god so near to them...? | God's unparalleled closeness to His people. |
| Deut 33:26 | ...He rides through the heavens to help you, through the clouds in His majesty. | God's use of clouds to display power. |
| 1 Kin 8:10-11 | ...the cloud filled the house of the LORD. | God's glory filling the temple, like the tabernacle. |
| Psa 8:1 | O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! | Magnification of God's revealed name/character. |
| Psa 104:3 | He lays the beams of His chambers on His mighty waters; He makes the clouds His chariot. | God's sovereignty over the clouds. |
| Isa 12:4 | And in that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name." | Invoking/proclaiming God's name in praise. |
| Isa 19:1 | ...Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud... | God's presence in judgment or salvation. |
| Matt 17:5 | ...a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud... | God's voice from a cloud, revealing His Son (Transfiguration). |
| Acts 1:9 | ...as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. | Christ's ascension by means of a cloud, a divine vehicle. |
| Phil 2:9-10 | ...God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name. | God's revelation of a supreme name through Christ. |
| Heb 1:3 | ...He is the radiance of the glory of God... | Christ fully reveals the glory and character of God. |
| Rev 1:7 | Behold, He is coming with the clouds... | Christ's return, often associated with clouds, fulfilling prophecy. |
| Rev 15:4 | Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? | Future glorification of God's holy name. |
Exodus 34 verses
Exodus 34 5 Meaning
Exodus 34:5 describes a profound and intimate encounter between God and Moses on Mount Sinai. It portrays God's direct and visible manifestation, a theophany, as He descends in a cloud, positioning Himself alongside Moses to reveal His essential nature. This moment is preparatory for the subsequent declaration of God's character attributes (the "Name" of the LORD), emphasizing His initiative in restoring the covenant relationship after the sin of the golden calf.
Exodus 34 5 Context
Exodus 34:5 immediately follows the grave national sin of the golden calf (Exo 32) and God's renewed covenant with Israel after Moses' intercession (Exo 33). Moses had shattered the first tablets (Exo 32:19) and pleaded for God's continued presence with Israel. This verse marks a pivotal moment where God, in an act of grace, descends again to rewrite the covenant on new tablets (Exo 34:1, 4). The context is one of covenant restoration and the self-revelation of God's character (Exo 34:6-7) as merciful and gracious, yet just. It underscores God's commitment to His people despite their failure, highlighting His faithfulness and redemptive purpose. This particular divine manifestation continues the pattern seen earlier at Sinai (Exo 19, 24), establishing a divine presence that is both awe-inspiring and intimately accessible to Moses.
Exodus 34 5 Word analysis
- And the LORD (וַיְהוָה, vayYHWH): Refers to Yahweh, the personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies His unchanging, self-existent nature and His commitment to His promises. The prefix 'וַ' (va-) acts as a sequential conjunctive, emphasizing God's initiative following Moses' obedience in preparing the new tablets.
- descended (וַיֵּרֶד, vayyēred): From the verb יָרַד (yarad), "to go down, descend." It signifies an active, purposeful movement by God to engage with creation. This contrasts with static deities and highlights God's immanence – His willingness to come near to His people.
- in the cloud (בֶּעָנָן, be‘ānān): "Cloud" (‘ānān) is a recurring symbol of divine presence, often representing God's glory (כָּבוֹד, kavod) and presence while simultaneously veiling Him from direct, destructive sight. It signifies both God's mystery and His intentional revelation, often indicating the awesome nature of His coming. This particular "cloud" is an aspect of the glory cloud previously associated with Sinai.
- and stood with him there (וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם, vayyityaṣṣēḇ ‘immô shām): This phrase emphasizes an intimate, personal encounter. God positions Himself in relation to Moses, ready for interaction. "Stood" implies a stable, focused presence for communication, setting the stage for direct revelation.
- and proclaimed the name of the LORD (וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהוָה, vayyiqrā’ vᵉshem YHWH): This is a crucial phrase. "Proclaimed the name" (literally "called by the name") is not merely uttering "Yahweh" as a word. Biblically, "the name of the LORD" embodies His revealed character, attributes, and entire nature. This act signifies God's self-revelation of who He is, setting the stage for the specific attributes that follow in verses 6-7 (merciful, gracious, slow to anger, etc.). It’s a declaration of His essence and a reaffirmation of His covenant relationship.
Exodus 34 5 Bonus section
The event in Exodus 34:5-7 is foundational for understanding God's character throughout the Old Testament and beyond. This self-proclamation of God's name (which goes beyond verse 5 into verses 6-7, but is initiated in verse 5) becomes a primary source for theological understanding of God's attributes of compassion, grace, patience, and truth. It establishes the "LORD" not just as a mighty being but as a relational covenant God whose primary disposition towards His repentant people is mercy. This divine attribute became the basis for future Israelite prayers and pleas for forgiveness. In the New Testament, this character of God is perfectly embodied in Jesus Christ (John 1:18, Heb 1:3), who fully reveals the "name" or character of God in His Person and work.
Exodus 34 5 Commentary
Exodus 34:5 presents a dramatic yet deeply significant theological moment. After the monumental breach of the golden calf, where the very foundation of the covenant was shaken, God, in an astounding display of grace and condescension, reinitiates the relationship. He doesn't merely speak from a distant heaven but actively "descends in the cloud," an act of deliberate engagement with humanity. This descent underscores God's dynamic nature and His willingness to draw near, not limited by space or human sin.
The imagery of the cloud is vital; it is both a medium for revelation and a shroud for overwhelming divine glory, protecting Moses while manifesting God's presence. God "standing with him there" indicates a unique and intimate fellowship, a willingness to engage Moses directly, face-to-face as it were, not through an intermediary. This act of drawing near leads directly to the core of the verse: God's proclamation of "the name of the LORD." This is more than an utterance of a word; it is the formal, sovereign declaration of His own character and attributes. It's the moment God explicitly defines Himself, laying the groundwork for Israel to truly know and worship Him based on His nature of mercy, patience, and faithfulness, which become the bedrock of the renewed covenant. This moment sets a pattern for God's redemptive work, where He initiates the restoration, reveals His character, and then provides the framework for relationship based on that revelation.