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Exodus 34:6

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And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

And the LORD {H3068} passed by {H5674} before him {H6440}, and proclaimed {H7121}, The LORD {H3068}, The LORD {H3068} God {H410}, merciful {H7349} and gracious {H2587}, longsuffering {H750}{H639}, and abundant {H7227} in goodness {H2617} and truth {H571},

ADONAI passed before him and proclaimed: "YUD-HEH-VAV-HEH!!! Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [ADONAI] is God, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and truth;

Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth;

Commentary

Exodus 34:6 is a pivotal verse in the Old Testament, revealing God's character directly to Moses after a period of significant trial. It describes God's self-proclamation as He passes before Moses, emphasizing His core attributes.

Context

This declaration occurs immediately after the incident of the golden calf and the breaking of the first tablets of the Law (see Exodus 32:19). Moses interceded for Israel and asked to see God's glory (Exodus 33:18). God agreed to show Moses His goodness and proclaim His name. This passage is the fulfillment of that promise, providing a foundational understanding of God's nature as He renews the covenant with Israel.

Key Themes

  • The Nature of God: This verse is a profound self-revelation of God, highlighting His essential character traits.
  • Mercy and Grace: God is described as "merciful and gracious," indicating His compassion and unmerited favor towards humanity, despite their failures.
  • Longsuffering: "Longsuffering" points to God's patience, His slowness to anger even in the face of sin.
  • Abundant Goodness and Truth: God is overflowing with kindness, faithfulness, and reliability. These attributes assure His promises and character are trustworthy.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used here are rich in meaning:

  • "Merciful" (rachum): Related to the word for womb, signifying a deep, compassionate pity.
  • "Gracious" (chanun): Refers to showing favor or kindness, especially to those who don't deserve it.
  • "Longsuffering" (erekh appayim): Literally "long of nostrils," an idiom for being slow to anger.
  • "Goodness" (khesed): Often translated as lovingkindness, steadfast love, or mercy, denoting loyal, covenant faithfulness and goodness.
  • "Truth" (emet): Signifies firmness, faithfulness, reliability, and truthfulness.

Reflection and Application

Exodus 34:6 provides immense comfort and assurance for believers today. It reminds us that the God of the Old Testament is the same God revealed fully in Jesus Christ, who is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Understanding God's mercy and longsuffering encourages us to approach Him with repentance and faith, knowing He is willing to forgive and restore. His abundance in goodness and truth assures us of His faithfulness to His promises and His unwavering character. This passage is a cornerstone for understanding God's benevolent heart towards His creation.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • Psalms 86:15 (134 votes)

    But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

  • Joel 2:13 (120 votes)

    And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

  • Psalms 103:8 (102 votes)

    The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

  • Psalms 103:13 (102 votes)

    Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

  • Psalms 145:8 (97 votes)

    The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

  • Nehemiah 9:17 (81 votes)

    And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

  • Jonah 4:2 (69 votes)

    And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, [was] not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou [art] a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.