Exodus 33:22

KJV

And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

KJV (with Strong's)

And it shall come to pass, while my glory {H3519} passeth by {H5674}, that I will put {H7760} thee in a clift {H5366} of the rock {H6697}, and will cover {H5526} thee with my hand {H3709} while {H5704} I pass by {H5674}:

Complete Jewish Bible

When my glory passes by, I will put you inside a crevice in the rock and cover you with my hand, until I have passed by.

Berean Standard Bible

and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

American Standard Version

and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 33:22 describes God's gracious and protective response to Moses' bold request to see His glory. Following the incident of the golden calf, God promises to shield Moses in a "clift of the rock" and cover him with His hand as His glory passes by, allowing a partial, mediated revelation of the divine presence without overwhelming or destroying him. This pivotal moment underscores God's profound holiness, His compassionate care for His servant, and the inherent danger of a direct, unmediated encounter with His full, unapproachable majesty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial part of the narrative immediately following the devastating sin of the golden calf in [Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf Incident"). Moses has passionately interceded for the rebellious Israelites, securing God's continued presence among them despite their sin ([Exodus 33:1-17](/exodus/33-1-17 "Exodus 33:1-17 - God's Presence and Moses' Intercession")). Emboldened by God's graciousness and driven by a deep spiritual hunger, Moses then makes an audacious request: "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory" ([Exodus 33:18](/exodus/33-18 "Exodus 33:18 - Moses' Request to See God's Glory")). God's response in [Exodus 33:19-23](/exodus/33-19-23 "God's Gracious Response to Moses") is a carefully orchestrated revelation, affirming His sovereignty ("I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious") and establishing the boundary that "no man shall see me, and live" ([Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God and Live")). Verse 22, therefore, outlines the specific, protective measures God will take to allow Moses to experience a mediated glimpse of His passing glory, ensuring his survival.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Mount Sinai, the sacred mountain where God established His covenant with Israel. In the ancient Near East, direct encounters with deities were often fraught with danger, and the concept of divine holiness often implied inaccessibility. God's glory (Hebrew: *kavod*) was understood as His manifest presence, weight, and splendor, which was inherently too powerful for mortal eyes to behold in its fullness. The "clift of the rock" would have been a familiar natural feature in the rugged Sinai landscape, serving as a tangible representation of a secure hiding place. This event is a **theophany**, a visible manifestation of God, but one uniquely tailored to Moses' limitations and God's protective nature. It highlights the extraordinary, intimate, yet carefully bounded relationship God had with Moses, distinguishing him from all other prophets and leaders in Israel's history.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **clift (Hebrew, _neqarah_):** This word (נְקָרָה) signifies a fissure, crevice, or hollowed-out place. It implies a natural, yet divinely chosen and prepared, hiding spot within the solid rock. The use of "clift" emphasizes God's active provision of a secure, physical refuge for Moses, underscoring the extreme danger of the encounter and God's meticulous care for His servant's safety.
* **hand (Hebrew, _kaph_):** The Hebrew word (כַּף) refers to the palm or hollow of the hand. When applied to God, it is an anthropomorphism (attributing human characteristics to God) that conveys a profound sense of personal, intimate, and complete protection. God's "hand" here is not merely a barrier but a tender, sovereign enclosure, signifying His direct and powerful intervention to shield Moses from the overwhelming force of His glory.
* **glory (Hebrew, _kavod_):** The term (כָּבוֹד) denotes weight, splendor, honor, or manifest presence. In this context, it refers to the overwhelming, unapproachable essence of God's being as it is revealed. It is the visible manifestation of God's intrinsic holiness, power, and majesty, which is both awe-inspiring and lethal to fallen humanity if encountered directly.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by":** This clause establishes the dynamic nature of the revelation. God's glory is not static but in motion, a powerful, transient wave of divine presence. The phrase "passeth by" suggests an overwhelming, unstoppable force, emphasizing the need for extraordinary protective measures during its brief but intense manifestation.
* **"that I will put thee in a clift of the rock":** This highlights God's sovereign initiative and active involvement in protecting Moses. It is God who "puts" Moses in this specific, divinely designated sanctuary. The "clift of the rock" serves as both a literal and symbolic refuge, a secure enclosure against the raw power of God's passing glory, demonstrating God's meticulous care for His servant's survival.
* **"and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by":** This is a deeply personal and tender act of divine protection. God's "hand" is a powerful anthropomorphic image, signifying His direct, intimate, and complete shielding of Moses. This act ensures that Moses will not perish from the encounter, allowing him to witness a partial revelation of God's glory in a way that is both profound and safe.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 33:22 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological truths. The primary device is **Theophany**, the manifestation of God, which is central to the entire encounter on Sinai. Here, it is a controlled theophany, where God's glory is revealed in a mediated fashion. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the description of God's "hand" covering Moses and His "glory pass[ing] by," attributing human-like actions and physical characteristics to the transcendent God to make His actions comprehensible to human understanding. The "clift of the rock" functions as powerful **Symbolism**, representing a divinely provided refuge and sanctuary, a place of safety from overwhelming divine power. Similarly, God's "hand" is symbolic of His intimate, personal, and sovereign protection. The entire passage also contains elements of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the ultimate, full revelation of God's glory that would later come through Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the divine.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 33:22 profoundly reveals core theological truths about God's nature and His relationship with humanity. It underscores His absolute holiness and transcendent majesty, demonstrating that His full, unmediated glory is too immense and pure for fallen human beings to behold directly and survive. Yet, it simultaneously showcases His immense grace and compassionate care, as He actively devises a way for Moses, His chosen servant, to experience a glimpse of His glory safely. This passage establishes a foundational principle for divine revelation: God reveals Himself in ways that are both profound and protective, always accommodating human limitations while maintaining His divine boundaries. It speaks to God's desire for intimacy, even amidst His unapproachable holiness, and His commitment to shielding His people.

* [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - God's Declaration of Inaccessibility")
* [Psalm 91:4](/psalms/91-4 "Psalm 91:4 - God's Covering Protection")
* [Psalm 18:2](/psalms/18-2 "Psalm 18:2 - God as a Rock and Fortress")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 33:22 offers timeless lessons for believers today, inviting us to a deeper understanding of God's character and our place before Him. It calls us to cultivate a profound reverence for God's transcendent holiness and awe-inspiring power, reminding us that while He invites us into intimate relationship, He remains infinitely majestic and distinct from His creation. Just as God meticulously protected Moses from the overwhelming force of His glory, this passage assures us of His unwavering commitment to be our refuge and strength. We can trust in His "hand" to shield us from overwhelming circumstances, spiritual dangers, and the trials of life, finding our "clift of the rock" in His constant presence and unfailing promises. Furthermore, Moses' intense desire to see God's glory should inspire us to seek a deeper, more profound relationship with the Lord, knowing that while we may not see His full glory in this life, He continually reveals Himself through His Word, His Spirit, and His Son, in ways we can safely apprehend and understand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage deepen your understanding of God's holiness and majesty, and how does that impact your approach to worship and prayer?**
* **In what "clifts of the rock" or under what "hand" have you experienced God's protective presence in your life during times of overwhelming challenge or spiritual danger?**
* **What does Moses' bold desire to see God's glory teach us about pursuing a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord today, and how can we safely seek His presence?**

### FAQ
**Why couldn't Moses see God's face directly?**

Answer: God explicitly states in [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God and Live") that "no man shall see me, and live." This is not an arbitrary restriction but a declaration of God's absolute holiness, purity, and immense glory. Fallen humanity, in its sinful state, cannot withstand a direct, unmediated encounter with the full, unveiled presence of God without perishing. It underscores the infinite qualitative difference between the Creator and His creatures, emphasizing His transcendence and the inherent danger of His unapproachable light.

**What does the "clift of the rock" symbolize in this context?**

Answer: The "clift of the rock" symbolizes a divinely provided sanctuary or refuge. It represents a place of safety, shelter, and concealment from the overwhelming power of God's glory. It emphasizes God's active role in preparing a secure space for Moses, demonstrating His meticulous care and His desire to reveal Himself in a way that is both profound and protective, rather than destructive. It foreshadows God as our ultimate refuge.

**How does God's "hand" protect Moses as His glory passes by?**

Answer: God's "hand" is an anthropomorphic expression, attributing a human characteristic to God to help us understand His actions. In this context, it signifies God's intimate, personal, and complete shielding of Moses. It conveys His tender care and sovereign power to guard Moses from the destructive force of His passing glory, allowing Moses to experience a mediated glimpse of the divine presence without being consumed by it. It represents a direct, powerful act of divine intervention and protection.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 33:22, with its depiction of a veiled and mediated revelation of God's glory, finds its ultimate and full Christ-centered fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While Moses was hidden in a "clift of the rock" and covered by God's hand to glimpse His passing glory, humanity now beholds the very "image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Jesus, the Image of the Invisible God")) in Jesus. He is not merely a partial manifestation or a passing glory, but "God with us" ([Matthew 1:23](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us")), the "Word made flesh" who "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")). In Christ, the unapproachable God became approachable, the invisible God became visible, and the dangerous glory became saving grace. He is our ultimate "clift of the rock," the spiritual Rock that followed Israel ([1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - Christ as the Spiritual Rock")), providing perfect refuge and safety. Through His atoning sacrifice, we are no longer kept at a distance but are invited to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")), having been reconciled to God by the very one who perfectly reveals Him.

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

Psalms 91:1

¶ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:4

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.

Isaiah 2:21

To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Isaiah 32:2

And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

1 Corinthians 10:4

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:19

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Psalms 18:2

The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.