Exodus 34:34

KJV

But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel [that] which he was commanded.

KJV (with Strong's)

But when Moses {H4872} went in {H935} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068} to speak {H1696} with him, he took {H5493} the vail {H4533} off {H5493}, until he came out {H3318}. And he came out {H3318}, and spake {H1696} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} that which he was commanded {H6680}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But when he went in before ADONAI for him to speak, he would take the veil off until he came out; then, when he came out, he would tell the people of Isra'el what he had been ordered.

Berean Standard Bible

But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. And when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded,

American Standard Version

But when Moses went in before Jehovah to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 34:34 describes Moses' consistent practice of removing the veil from his face when entering the direct presence of the LORD for divine communication, and then replacing it upon his return to deliver God's authoritative commands to the Israelites. This verse highlights Moses' unique and indispensable role as a mediator between a holy God and His covenant people, underscoring both the awe-inspiring nature of God's glory and the necessity of unhindered communion to faithfully convey His word.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the climactic account of Moses' second descent from Mount Sinai. After the severe breach of the covenant through the golden calf idolatry, God graciously renewed His covenant with Israel, inscribing new tablets of the Law (as detailed in [Exodus 34:1-28](/exodus/34 "Exodus 34 - Covenant Renewal and New Tablets")). Upon descending the mountain, Moses' face radiated with an intense, supernatural glory, a direct consequence of his intimate communion with the LORD (cf. [Exodus 34:29](/exodus/34-29 "Exodus 34:29 - Moses' Face Shines")). The overwhelming radiance caused the Israelites to be afraid to approach him, prompting Moses to cover his face with a veil (as recounted in [Exodus 34:30-33](/exodus/34-30-33 "Exodus 34:30-33 - The Veil on Moses' Face")). Verse 34 then clarifies Moses' established protocol: the veil was a temporary measure, removed only when he re-entered God's presence, ensuring unhindered communication, and reapplied when he returned to the people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, direct, unmediated access to a deity was typically reserved for a select few, such as high priests or kings, and even then, often involved elaborate rituals or symbolic coverings to protect mortals from divine power. Moses' direct, "face-to-face" interaction with YHWH was unparalleled in the ancient world and among Israel (cf. [Numbers 12:8](/numbers/12-8 "Numbers 12:8 - God Speaks to Moses Face to Face")). The veil itself, while a practical response to the people's fear of God's glory, also carried significant symbolic weight, representing a barrier or a hidden reality. This established practice reinforced Moses' unique, set-apart status as God's chosen prophet and the profound holiness of God's presence, which could not be directly sustained by ordinary humans. It also subtly foreshadowed the ultimate need for a more direct and permanent access to God's presence, beyond the temporary mediation of the Old Covenant.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 34:34 contributes significantly to several major themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It highlights the **holiness and transcendent glory of God**, demonstrating that His presence is so powerful it cannot be directly endured by sinful humanity without a mediator. It emphasizes **Moses' unique role as mediator**, chosen by God to stand between the divine and the human, receiving and delivering God's authoritative word. The veil itself introduces the theme of **veiled access and progressive revelation**, suggesting that full understanding and direct communion with God were not yet fully available under the Old Covenant. This practice also reinforces the **authority of God's word**, as Moses faithfully transmits "that which he was commanded," ensuring the divine origin and binding nature of the Law for the children of Israel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Vail (Hebrew, מַסְוֶה, _masveh'_):** This noun (H4533) refers specifically to a covering or veil, used exclusively in Exodus 34 to describe the cloth Moses placed over his face. Its primary function is as a barrier, shielding the people from the intense, lingering glory of God that radiated from Moses' face after his encounters with the divine. The act of removing it signifies the necessity of approaching God without concealment, in a state of openness and readiness for direct divine communication. Its presence before the people and absence before God visually encapsulates the mediating role Moses played, illustrating the separation between God's unmediated glory and humanity's capacity to receive it.
* **Before the LORD (Hebrew, פָּנִים יְהוָה, _panim YHWH'_):** This phrase combines `pânîym` (H6440), meaning "face" (often used with a prepositional prefix to mean "before" or "in the presence of"), and `Yᵉhôvâh` (H3068), the self-Existent or Eternal God, Jehovah. The combination signifies entering a sacred space and coming into the direct, personal presence of God. For Moses, this implied a privileged and intimate encounter, distinct from the general presence of God among His people. It highlights the unique access Moses had, which was unavailable to the rest of Israel, emphasizing the profound intimacy of his relationship with the Almighty.
* **Speak (Hebrew, דָּבַר, _dabar'_):** This primitive root (H1696) signifies communication, often with authority, purpose, or arrangement. Here, it emphasizes that Moses' primary purpose in God's presence was to receive divine revelation and instruction. When he "spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded," it underscores that his words were not his own opinions or interpretations, but the direct, authoritative word of God, faithfully transmitted. This highlights his role as a true prophet and the divine origin of the Law.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him":** This clause establishes the setting and profound purpose of Moses' action. It describes Moses' intentional movement into the designated place of divine encounter—the Tent of Meeting or, previously, Mount Sinai—emphasizing his unique and privileged access to God's direct presence. His purpose was not merely to observe, but to engage in verbal communication, actively receiving instructions, laws, and revelations directly from the Almighty. This highlights the intimacy and necessity of his role as God's chosen conduit.
* **"he took the vail off, until he came out.":** This is the central action of the verse, revealing Moses' established practice. Moses' removal of the veil signifies his readiness for unhindered, transparent communion with God. The veil, which served to shield the people from God's radiant glory, was unnecessary and inappropriate in God's immediate, holy presence. The phrase "until he came out" indicates that this was a consistent, established ritual: the veil remained off for the entire duration of his time in God's presence, underscoring the continuous nature of his direct interaction with the divine.
* **"And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel [that] which he was commanded.":** This clause describes the second, public phase of Moses' mediating role. Upon exiting God's manifest presence, he immediately resumed his duty of conveying God's message to the people. The crucial phrase "that which he was commanded" emphatically underscores the divine origin and absolute authority of his words. It ensures that what he communicated was precisely what God had revealed to him, without addition, alteration, or personal interpretation, thereby establishing the binding nature of the Law for Israel.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Contrast** and **Symbolism**. The primary **Contrast** is evident in the differing states of Moses' face: unveiled when in direct communion with the LORD, and veiled when addressing the people. This highlights the distinct nature of these two interactions: one demanding complete openness for divine reception, the other requiring a barrier due to the people's inability to bear the full intensity of God's glory. The **Symbolism** of the veil is profound. It represents the temporary, mediated nature of the Old Covenant's access to God's presence, as well as the people's inherent inability to fully perceive or endure the unmitigated glory of God. The act of removing the veil before the LORD symbolizes the intimacy, transparency, and readiness required for true communion with the Holy One, while its reapplication before the people signifies the ongoing separation between a holy God and sinful humanity, and the continuing need for a mediator.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 34:34 powerfully illustrates the themes of divine glory, mediation, and the nature of access to God's presence under the Old Covenant. Moses' unveiled face before the LORD signifies the unique intimacy and directness of his relationship with God, a privilege not extended to the wider Israelite community. The veil, by contrast, underscores the people's inability to directly behold God's glory and their inherent need for a mediator to bridge the gap. This dynamic highlights God's profound holiness and the necessary separation between a holy God and a sinful humanity, even within a covenant relationship. The temporary and fading nature of Moses' glory, and thus the veil, points forward to a time when such barriers would be permanently removed, and direct, unveiled access to God's presence would be granted through a new and better covenant.

* [2 Corinthians 3:7-18](/2_corinthians/3-7-18 "2 Corinthians 3:7-18 - The Fading Glory of the Old Covenant and the Enduring Glory of the New")
* [Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")
* [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Our Confidence to Enter the Most Holy Place")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' consistent practice of removing the veil before the LORD serves as a profound spiritual lesson for believers today. While we no longer approach a physical Tent of Meeting or witness the lingering glory of God on a human face, the principle of unhindered communion with God remains paramount. Moses' willingness to lay aside all coverings and stand transparently before God reminds us of the posture of humility, honesty, and openness required for genuine prayer, worship, and spiritual formation. We are called to approach God not with hidden agendas, masked identities, or pretense, but with unveiled hearts, ready to receive His word and be transformed by His presence. Furthermore, Moses' faithful transmission of "that which he was commanded" challenges us to be diligent, accurate, and uncompromising in sharing God's truth with the world, ensuring that our words reflect His divine authority and not merely our own opinions or cultural preferences. This verse calls us to both intimate reception and faithful proclamation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to "veil" myself from God, perhaps out of fear, shame, or a desire to maintain control?**
* **How does the concept of "unveiled" access to God through Christ impact my daily prayer life and worship, encouraging greater intimacy and transparency?**
* **Am I faithfully communicating "that which I was commanded" (God's truth) to those around me, or am I diluting, distorting, or withholding His message?**
* **What does Moses' consistent practice of removing and replacing the veil teach me about discipline, reverence, and intentionality in my spiritual walk?**

### FAQ
**Why did Moses need to take the veil off when he went in before the LORD?**

Answer: Moses needed to take the veil off when he went in before the LORD because the veil was a barrier, serving to shield the Israelites from the overwhelming glory that radiated from his face after his encounters with God (as described in [Exodus 34:29-33](/exodus/34-29-33 "Exodus 34:29-33 - Moses' Face Shines and He Veils It")). In God's direct, holy presence, such a barrier was unnecessary and, in fact, inappropriate. To "speak with him" required unhindered, direct communion and complete transparency. The act of removing the veil symbolized Moses' unique privilege of direct access and his readiness to receive divine revelation directly from the source, without any impediment or concealment. It signified the profound intimacy and unique relationship Moses shared with YHWH.

**What is the significance of Moses speaking "that which he was commanded" to the children of Israel?**

Answer: The phrase "that which he was commanded" is highly significant because it profoundly emphasizes the divine authority and unwavering fidelity of Moses' message. It underscores that Moses was not speaking his own words, opinions, or interpretations, but was acting as a direct and faithful conduit for God's authoritative word. This highlights his divinely appointed role as a true prophet and mediator, ensuring that the instructions, laws, and revelations delivered to Israel were precisely what God intended, without human embellishment or alteration. It reinforces the concept that the Law and all of God's covenant stipulations were divinely originated, not humanly conceived, thereby establishing their binding nature and ultimate truth for the people of Israel (compare with the prophetic role described in [Deuteronomy 18:18-19](/deuteronomy/18-18-19 "Deuteronomy 18:18-19 - The Prophet Like Moses")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 34:34, with its depiction of Moses' veiled and unveiled face, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Moses, as the mediator of the Old Covenant, could only offer temporary and veiled access to God's glory, a glory that was designed to fade and thus required a covering (as powerfully expounded in [2 Corinthians 3:7-11](/2_corinthians/3-7-11 "2 Corinthians 3:7-11 - The Fading Glory of the Old Covenant")). His practice foreshadowed the ultimate and permanent removal of the veil through Christ. Jesus is the true and ultimate Mediator, not merely conveying God's word, but embodying God's very presence, glory, and truth (cf. [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Through His perfect life, atoning sacrifice on the cross, and glorious resurrection, the "veil" separating humanity from God's holy presence—symbolized by the tearing of the temple curtain at His death (see [Matthew 27:51](/matthew/27-51 "Matthew 27:51 - The Temple Veil Torn"))—was permanently removed. Now, believers, through faith in Christ, have direct, unveiled access to God's throne of grace (as taught in [Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence") and [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Our Confidence to Enter the Most Holy Place")). We can, with unveiled faces, behold the glory of the Lord and be progressively transformed into His image by the Spirit (as powerfully articulated in [2 Corinthians 3:18](/2_corinthians/3-18 "2 Corinthians 3:18 - Transformed by the Spirit")), experiencing an enduring glory that far surpasses and fulfills the fading radiance of the Old Covenant.

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

2 Corinthians 3:16

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Hebrews 10:19

¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.