Exodus 34:35

And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} saw {H7200} the face {H6440} of Moses {H4872}, that the skin {H5785} of Moses {H4872}' face {H6440} shone {H7160}: and Moses {H4872} put {H7725} the vail {H4533} upon his face {H6440} again {H7725}, until he went {H935} in to speak {H1696} with him.

But when the people of Isra'el saw Moshe's face, that the skin of Moshe's face shone, he would put the veil back over his face until he went in again to speak with [ADONAI].

and the Israelites would see that the face of Moses was radiant. So Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Mosesโ€™ face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Commentary

Exodus 34:35 describes the powerful visual effect of Moses' encounter with God on Mount Sinai, specifically how his face radiated divine glory, and his subsequent action of veiling it.

Context of Exodus 34:35

This verse concludes a significant passage detailing Moses' second forty-day and forty-night period with God on Mount Sinai, where he received the renewed tablets of the Law after Israel's sin with the golden calf. Having just been in the immediate presence of the Almighty, Moses descended the mountain unaware that his face was emitting a brilliant light. The children of Israel were afraid to come near him because of this intense radiance, prompting Moses to place a veil over his face when he was among them.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Radiance and Presence: The shining of Moses' face was a direct, undeniable manifestation of God's glory. It served as a visible testament to the profound intimacy and power of his communion with the Lord. It underscored the reality that being in God's presence transforms.
  • Mediation and Representation: Moses acted as a mediator between God and the Israelites, bringing God's words and laws to them. His shining face signified his unique role as God's chosen representative, a visible sign of divine approval and authority.
  • The Veil and Human Imperfection: Moses' act of veiling his face, as mentioned in this verse, highlights the people's inability to endure the full intensity of God's glory directly. Later, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses this veil as a metaphor for the spiritual blindness of those under the old covenant, contrasting it with the unveiled face of those who behold the glory of the Lord in the new covenant, which does not fade but increases.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "shone" (or "radiated") is qaran (ืงืจืŸ). This word is related to the noun for "horn" (ืงืจืŸ), which led to the famous, though inaccurate, medieval artistic depictions of Moses with horns. However, in this context, qaran specifically means to "send out rays" or "to radiate light," emphasizing the effulgence of divine glory rather than any physical horns.

Practical Application

Exodus 34:35 reminds us that time spent in God's presence has a transformative effect. While we may not experience a literal shining face, our lives should reflect the glory of God through our character, words, and actions. The New Covenant, established through Jesus Christ, offers believers a more direct and enduring access to God's glory, enabling us to be continuously transformed from glory to glory (as described in 2 Corinthians 3:18) without the need for a veil. It challenges us to seek deeper communion with God, knowing that such intimacy will inevitably impact how we are seen and how we influence the world around us.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 34:29

    And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

  • Exodus 34:30

    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.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:1

    ยถ Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

  • Daniel 12:3

    And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

  • Philippians 2:15

    That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

  • Matthew 5:16

    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

  • Matthew 13:43

    Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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