Exodus 33:18

KJV

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, I beseech thee {H4994}, shew {H7200} me thy glory {H3519}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Moshe said, "I beg you to show me your glory!"

Berean Standard Bible

Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”

American Standard Version

And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 33:18 records Moses' audacious yet humble plea to God: "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory." This profound request emerges at a critical juncture following Israel's egregious sin with the golden calf. Despite God's renewed promise of His presence accompanying the Israelites, Moses, already enjoying unparalleled intimacy with the Almighty, yearns for an even deeper, more direct experiential revelation of God's intrinsic essence, majesty, and character, moving beyond mere assurance to a direct encounter with the divine nature itself.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Moses' request in [Exodus 33:18](/exodus/33-18 "Exodus 33:18 - Moses' Request to See God's Glory") is deeply embedded in the aftermath of the golden calf incident, detailed in [Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf"). Following Israel's catastrophic idolatry, God's wrath threatened to consume the nation, and He initially declared He would send an angel before them instead of going Himself ([Exodus 33:3](/exodus/33-3 "Exodus 33:3 - God's Refusal to Go with Israel")). Moses, acting as a fervent intercessor, pleaded for Israel's preservation and for God's continued presence. His persistent prayers led to God's change of heart, with the Lord promising, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest" ([Exodus 33:14](/exodus/33-14 "Exodus 33:14 - God's Promise of Presence")). This assurance, coupled with Moses' uniquely intimate relationship with God, described as speaking "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" ([Exodus 33:11](/exodus/33-11 "Exodus 33:11 - Moses Speaks with God Face to Face")), emboldens Moses to seek an even more profound revelation of God's very being. This request is not for proof, but for an ultimate, personal experience of God's majesty, setting the stage for God's self-revelation in [Exodus 34](/exodus/34 "Exodus 34 - God Renews the Covenant").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness of Sinai, where God had established His covenant with Israel ([Exodus 19-24](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19-24 - The Giving of the Law at Sinai")). The golden calf incident represented a profound breach of this covenant, particularly the first two commandments against idolatry ([Exodus 20:3-6](/exodus/20-3-6 "Exodus 20:3-6 - The First and Second Commandments")). In the ancient Near East, the presence of a deity was often understood through visible manifestations, such as idols or natural phenomena. However, Israel's God, Yahweh, was distinct—transcendent yet immanent, revealing Himself in a pillar of cloud and fire ([Exodus 13:21-22](/exodus/13-21-22 "Exodus 13:21-22 - The Pillar of Cloud and Fire")). The concept of "glory" (Hebrew: _kabod_) in this context refers not merely to a visible light show, but to the tangible manifestation of God's inherent weight, honor, and essential character. Moses' request, therefore, pushes the boundaries of human interaction with the divine, seeking to grasp the very essence of the Holy One who had just demonstrated both terrifying wrath and boundless mercy. His role as mediator for a rebellious people underscores the gravity of his plea, as the continued journey of Israel depended on God's manifest presence among them.

* **Key Themes:** Moses' request for God's glory is central to several overarching themes in Exodus and the Pentateuch. It highlights the theme of **Divine Presence**, emphasizing God's desire to dwell among His people despite their sin, a promise reiterated in [Exodus 33:14](/exodus/33-14 "Exodus 33:14 - God's Promise of Presence"). It also underscores the theme of **Mediation**, as Moses uniquely stands between God and Israel, interceding for the nation and seeking God's continued favor. Furthermore, the passage delves into the **Nature of God's Revelation**, demonstrating that while God is transcendent and unapproachable in His fullness ([Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See My Face and Live")), He graciously reveals His character and attributes to those who earnestly seek Him, particularly His goodness and mercy as proclaimed in [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6-7 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God Proclaims His Name and Character"). This pursuit of deeper knowledge of God's character becomes a recurring motif for true worship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **glory (Hebrew, _kâbôwd_):** From the root _kâbad_, meaning "weight" or "heaviness." Figuratively, in a good sense, it denotes splendor or copiousness. When applied to God, _kâbôwd_ refers to the manifest presence of God, the visible display of His inherent majesty, power, holiness, and essential character. It is not merely an external display but the outward expression of God's intrinsic being, encompassing His honor and reputation. Moses' request was to perceive the fullness of God's attributes, His very essence.
* **I beseech thee (Hebrew, _nâʼ_):** A primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, often rendered as "I pray," "now," or "then." It is typically added to verbs (in the Imperative or Future) or interjections, and occasionally to adverbs or conjunctions. In this context, it functions as an earnest, humble, yet urgent plea, underscoring Moses' respectful supplication while expressing a deep, personal yearning.
* **shew (Hebrew, _râʼâh_):** A primitive root meaning "to see," literally or figuratively, with numerous applications (direct, implied, transitive, intransitive, causative). Here, it is used in a causative sense, meaning "cause me to see" or "make me see." Moses is not merely asking for an intellectual understanding but for God to actively initiate and facilitate a profound, experiential, and direct encounter with His glory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said,"**: This phrase identifies Moses as the speaker, linking his bold request directly to the preceding dialogue where God had affirmed His continued presence with Israel. It highlights Moses' unique position as mediator and intimate friend of God, who dares to ask for such a profound revelation.
* **"I beseech thee,"**: This humble yet fervent interjection reveals the depth of Moses' desire and his reverence before God. Despite his extraordinary relationship, he approaches God with deference, recognizing the immense magnitude of what he is asking—a direct encounter with the divine essence.
* **"shew me thy glory."**: This is the core of Moses' plea—a profound yearning for a direct, experiential revelation of God's essential being, His inherent majesty, character, and manifest presence. It transcends a desire for mere signs or blessings, seeking instead God Himself in His ultimate splendor, a desire for an ultimate apprehension of His divine nature.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 33:18 employs **Direct Discourse**, presenting Moses' exact words, which lends immediacy and emotional weight to his profound request. This direct address underscores the unique and intimate relationship Moses shares with God, allowing the reader to experience the audacity and humility of his plea. The request itself functions as a **Climax** in the narrative of Moses' intercession and his developing relationship with God, pushing the boundaries of human-divine interaction beyond mere conversation to a yearning for ultimate revelation. Furthermore, the phrase "shew me thy glory" contains an element of **Metonymy**, where "glory" stands in for the totality of God's manifest presence, character, and inherent being. While not a literal physical seeing, it signifies a profound, experiential apprehension of God's essence, setting up the subsequent narrative where God reveals His goodness and character rather than His face.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Moses' request for God's glory encapsulates a foundational theological truth: the human heart's innate yearning for ultimate knowledge of and intimacy with its Creator. It highlights the tension between God's absolute transcendence—His inability to be fully comprehended or seen by sinful humanity—and His immanence—His willingness to reveal Himself and dwell among His people. This passage underscores that true spiritual growth involves an ongoing, humble pursuit of God Himself, not just His blessings or power. It teaches that even those closest to God recognize there is always more of His infinite character to explore, and that God delights in revealing aspects of Himself to those who earnestly seek Him, while simultaneously protecting them from the overwhelming fullness of His unmediated presence.

* [Exodus 34:5-7](/exodus/34-5-7 "Exodus 34:5-7 - God Proclaims His Name and Character")
* [Psalm 27:8](/psalm/27-8 "Psalm 27:8 - Seeking God's Face")
* [Isaiah 6:1-5](/isaiah/6-1-5 "Isaiah 6:1-5 - Isaiah's Vision of God's Glory")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' heartfelt cry, "shew me thy glory," serves as a timeless paradigm for all believers. It challenges us to examine the depth of our own spiritual desires. Do we primarily seek God's hand—His provision, intervention, or solutions to our problems—or do we, like Moses, yearn for His face—His presence, His character, His very being? This passage reminds us that spiritual growth is an ongoing, lifelong pursuit; no matter how close we feel to God, there is always more of His infinite character and glory to explore. It calls us to cultivate a similar yearning for deeper intimacy and understanding, approaching God with humility and reverence, knowing that while His full glory is beyond our comprehension in this earthly life, He delights in revealing Himself to those who earnestly seek Him. Our prayers should reflect a desire for God's presence above all else, trusting that in knowing Him more profoundly, all other needs will be met in His perfect wisdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does Moses' bold request for God's glory reveal about the nature of true spiritual intimacy and audacious faith?**
* **How does our desire for God's presence compare to our desire for His blessings or solutions to our problems?**
* **In what ways can we, like Moses, seek a deeper, more profound revelation of God's character in our daily lives, and what might that look like practically?**

### FAQ
**What does "glory" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Exodus 33:18, "glory" (Hebrew: _kâbôwd_) refers to the manifest presence of God, the visible display of His inherent majesty, power, holiness, and essential character. It's not merely a light show or a physical form, but the outward expression of God's intrinsic being and attributes. Moses was asking for a deeper, experiential apprehension of God's very essence. God's subsequent response in [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6-7 "Exodus 34:6-7 - The Lord's Proclamation of His Character"), where He proclaims His name and character ("The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth..."), reveals that His glory is fundamentally tied to His moral attributes and His covenant faithfulness.

**Why couldn't Moses see God's face?**

Answer: God explicitly states in [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See My Face and Live"), "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." This prohibition highlights God's absolute holiness and transcendence, which sinful humanity cannot withstand in its unmediated fullness. To see God's "face" would imply a direct, unshielded encounter with His unapproachable light and purity, which would be destructive to human life in its fallen state. Instead, God protected Moses by placing him in the cleft of the rock and covering him with His hand as His glory passed by, allowing him to see God's "back" ([Exodus 33:22-23](/exodus/33-22-23 "Exodus 33:22-23 - God Hides Moses in the Cleft of the Rock")). This demonstrates God's protective love and His sovereign control over how He reveals Himself to humanity, always balancing revelation with preservation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Moses' yearning to see God's glory in [Exodus 33:18](/exodus/33-18 "Exodus 33:18 - Moses' Request to See God's Glory") finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While Moses was granted a partial, veiled glimpse of God's glory, limited by human capacity and divine holiness, the New Testament declares that Jesus is "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being" ([Hebrews/1-3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")). In Christ, the invisible God is made visible; as Jesus Himself proclaimed, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" ([John/14-9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Seeing the Father in Jesus")). The tabernacling of God's glory among His people, partially manifested in the wilderness tabernacle and the Temple, is fully realized in the Incarnation, for "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" ([John/1-14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Through Christ, believers are not only able to behold God's glory but are also progressively "transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" ([2 Corinthians/3-18](/2-corinthians/3-18 "2 Corinthians 3:18 - Transformed from Glory to Glory")). The ultimate answer to Moses' plea is the eschatological hope of seeing God "face to face" in the new heavens and new earth, where the Lamb himself will be the light, and "the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" ([Revelation/21-23](/revelation/21-23 "Revelation 21:23 - God's Glory as the Light of the New Jerusalem")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 33:20

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Revelation 21:23

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

John 1:18

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

1 Timothy 6:16

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.