Exodus 34:30

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

When Aharon and the people of Isra'el saw Moshe, the skin of his face was shining; and they were afraid to approach him.

Berean Standard Bible:

Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses, and behold, his face was radiant. And they were afraid to approach him.

American Standard Version:

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And when Aaron^{H175} and all the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478} saw^{H7200} Moses^{H4872}, behold, the skin^{H5785} of his face^{H6440} shone^{H7160}; and they were afraid^{H3372} to come nigh^{H5066} him.

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Commentary for Exodus 34:30

**Exodus 34:30** is part of the narrative where Moses is receiving the second set of the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. The historical context is the period after the Israelites had worshipped the golden calf, breaking their covenant with God. Moses intercedes for the people, and God instructs him to carve new stone tablets to replace the ones he had broken in anger over the idolatry.

**Themes:**

1. **Divine Presence:** Moses' face shone because he had been in the presence of God, indicating a transformation that occurs from direct contact with the divine. This visible change in Moses underscores the holiness and otherworldly nature of God.

2. **Fear of God:** The reaction of Aaron and the Israelites—fear and reluctance to approach Moses—reflects their awareness of the divine and their recognition of Moses' unique role as mediator between God and the people.

3. **Moses as Mediator:** This event reinforces Moses' position as the leader and intercessor for the Israelites. His glowing face serves as a tangible sign of his authority and the legitimacy of his leadership, which had been questioned after the golden calf incident.

4. **Transformation and Renewal:** The shining face symbolizes a renewal of the covenant between God and Israel, as Moses is receiving the new tablets. It signifies a fresh start for the Israelites, with the promise of God's continued guidance and presence.

5. **Revelation and Reverence:** The verse highlights the reverence that the divine revelation elicits. The physical manifestation of Moses' encounter with God causes awe and respect among the people, emphasizing the importance of revering God's word and presence.

In summary, Exodus 34:30 captures a moment of profound theological significance, illustrating the transformative power of God's presence, the role of Moses as a mediator, and the reverential fear that characterizes the appropriate human response to the divine.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H175
   There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
   Pronunciation: a-har-one'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5785
   There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוֹר
   Transliteration: ʻôwr
   Pronunciation: ore
   Description: from עוּר; skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather; hide, leather, skin.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7160
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרַן
   Transliteration: qâran
   Pronunciation: kaw-ran'
   Description: a primitive root; to push or gore; used only as denominative from קֶרֶן,; to shoot out horns; figuratively, rays; have horns, shine.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3372
   There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרֵא
   Transliteration: yârêʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
   Description: a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
   
10. Strong's Number: H5066
    There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָגַשׁ
    Transliteration: nâgash
    Pronunciation: naw-gash'
    Description: a primitive root; to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back; (make to) approach (nigh), bring (forth, hither, near), (cause to) come (hither, near, nigh), give place, go hard (up), (be, draw, go) near (nigh), offer, overtake, present, put, stand.