Exodus 34:9

KJV

And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it [is] a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, If now I have found {H4672} grace {H2580} in thy sight {H5869}, O Lord {H136}, let my Lord {H136}, I pray thee, go {H3212} among {H7130} us; for it is a stiffnecked {H7186}{H6203} people {H5971}; and pardon {H5545} our iniquity {H5771} and our sin {H2403}, and take us for thine inheritance {H5157}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and said, "If I have now found favor in your view, Adonai, then please let Adonai go with us, even though they are a stiffnecked people; and pardon our offenses and our sin; and take us as your possession."

Berean Standard Bible

“O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”

American Standard Version

And he said, If now I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray thee, go in the midst of us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 34:9 captures Moses' profound intercessory prayer immediately following God's majestic self-revelation on Mount Sinai. Despite Israel's recent egregious sin with the golden calf, Moses boldly appeals for God's continued, intimate presence among His rebellious people, confessing their inherent stubbornness and pleading for comprehensive pardon. Simultaneously, he reasserts their identity as God's chosen inheritance, underscoring Moses' pivotal role as mediator, God's enduring covenant faithfulness, and the essential nature of divine grace in the face of human sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climactic response of Moses to God's awe-inspiring self-revelation in [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6-7 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Character Proclamation"). The immediate backdrop is the aftermath of the catastrophic [golden calf incident](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf Incident") (Exodus 32), which shattered the original covenant tablets and provoked God's righteous wrath, threatening to consume the people. Moses had already interceded powerfully for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14; [Exodus 33:12-17](/exodus/33-12-17 "Exodus 33:12-17 - Moses' Plea for God's Presence")), securing a promise of God's continued presence. God then commanded Moses to carve new tablets, symbolizing a renewed covenant relationship. It is upon this second ascent to Mount Sinai, after God has passed before him, proclaiming His name and attributes—emphasizing His compassion, grace, slowness to anger, and abounding steadfast love and faithfulness, while also affirming His justice—that Moses bows in worship and offers this earnest, faith-filled petition. His prayer directly echoes the divine attributes just revealed, demonstrating his understanding of God's character as the foundational basis for his audacious plea.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness of Sinai, a period of intense covenant formation and testing for the nascent nation of Israel. Having been miraculously delivered from Egyptian bondage, they quickly fell into idolatry, breaking the very first commandments given at Sinai. This act of rebellion, particularly the worship of the golden calf, was a profound betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh, jeopardizing their very existence as God's people. Moses' prayer in [Exodus 34:9](/exodus/34-9 "Exodus 34:9 - Moses' Intercessory Prayer") must be understood against this backdrop of severe covenant infidelity and the potential for divine abandonment. Culturally, intercession was a recognized and vital role for prophets and leaders, who stood between the divine and the human. Moses, as God's chosen mediator, embodies this role, appealing to God's revealed character rather than Israel's merit, seeking to restore a relationship that their actions had severely strained. His request for God to "go among us" reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of a deity's active presence as absolutely essential for the well-being, identity, and protection of a people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It highlights the theme of **God's Enduring Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating that despite Israel's repeated failures, God remains committed to His promises and His chosen people, not because of their merit but because of His own character. It underscores the **Necessity of Divine Presence**, revealing that God's active dwelling among His people is their ultimate blessing, security, and distinguishing mark, as seen throughout the wilderness narrative and the Tabernacle's construction in [Exodus 25-40](/exodus/25 "Exodus 25-40 - Tabernacle Instructions and Construction"). The theme of **Human Sinfulness and Rebellion** is starkly presented through Moses' confession of Israel's "stiffnecked" nature, emphasizing the deep-seated propensity for disobedience. Crucially, the verse also magnifies the theme of **Divine Grace and Mercy**, demonstrating that reconciliation and pardon are solely dependent on God's benevolent disposition, which Moses appeals to directly, echoing God's self-proclamation in [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6-7 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Attributes"). Finally, it solidifies **Moses' Role as Mediator and Intercessor**, a recurring motif that prefigures the ultimate mediator.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Grace (Hebrew, _chên_ H2580):** This Hebrew term signifies favor, charm, or acceptance. In this context, Moses is appealing to God for unmerited favor, acknowledging that any continued relationship or divine presence is solely dependent on God's gracious disposition, not on Israel's deservingness. It implies a plea for a benevolent attitude from God despite the people's unworthiness, aligning with God's self-description as "gracious" (H2587, _ḥannûn_) in [Exodus 34:6](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6 - God's Graciousness").
* **Stiffnecked (Hebrew, _qâsheh_ H7186 + _ʻôreph_ H6203, _qesheh-ʿoref'_):** A powerful and recurring metaphor in the Old Testament, literally meaning "hard of neck." It vividly describes a stubborn, obstinate, and rebellious disposition, like an ox that refuses to submit to the yoke and pulls against its master. Moses uses this unflattering, yet accurate, description of the people not to condemn them, but paradoxically, as a basis for God's grace – only a God of immense mercy, who is "slow to anger" (H750, _ʾāreḵ ʾappayim_), could forgive and bear with such a recalcitrant people.
* **Inheritance (Hebrew, _nâchal_ H5157):** This term refers to a possession, an allotted portion, or a heritage. Here, it carries profound theological weight, signifying God's special claim on Israel as His treasured possession (cf. [Exodus 19:5](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5 - Israel, God's Treasured Possession")). Moses' request for God to "take us for thine inheritance" is a bold and faith-filled appeal for God to re-embrace Israel as His own, despite their failure, reaffirming the covenant relationship and God's enduring faithfulness to His chosen people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord,"**: Moses begins his prayer with profound humility and dependence, recognizing that his ability to intercede and for his plea to be heard rests entirely on God's unmerited favor towards him. This echoes his earlier pleas and God's affirmation of His unique relationship with Moses ([Exodus 33:12-17](/exodus/33-12-17 "Exodus 33:12-17 - Moses Finds Favor")). It sets a tone of supplication, not demand.
* **"let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us;"**: This is the central and most urgent request of the prayer. Moses understands that Israel's identity, security, and future as God's covenant people are utterly contingent upon God's active, abiding, and personal presence in their midst. Without His presence, they are merely a wandering, vulnerable group, destined for destruction or assimilation, as God Himself had threatened ([Exodus 33:3](/exodus/33-3 "Exodus 33:3 - God Threatens to Withdraw Presence")).
* **"for it [is] a stiffnecked people;"**: This phrase is a startling and counter-intuitive justification for his request. Instead of offering Israel's merit or promising future obedience, Moses highlights their deep-seated rebellion and obstinacy. This honest confession serves not as an accusation, but as an implicit appeal to God's character, specifically His abounding grace, patience, and steadfast love, which were just proclaimed in [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6-7 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Character"). Only a God who is "slow to anger" could bear with such a people and choose to remain with them.
* **"and pardon our iniquity and our sin,"**: Moses moves from requesting presence to seeking comprehensive forgiveness for their moral failures. "Iniquity" (H5771, _ʿâvôn_) often refers to the perversity or distortion of moral character, the guilt associated with sin, or the punishment due to it. "Sin" (H2403, _ḥaṭṭâʾâh_) refers to missing the mark, transgression, or the act of wrongdoing itself. The dual terms emphasize the comprehensive nature of their offense—both the internal corruption and the outward acts of rebellion—highlighting the thoroughness of the pardon needed. This plea is foundational for any renewed relationship.
* **"and take us for thine inheritance."**: This final request is a profound appeal for complete restoration and reaffirmation of the covenant. Despite their unworthiness and recent betrayal, Moses asks God to reclaim Israel as His special possession, His chosen people, fulfilling the original promise made to Abraham and demonstrating His enduring faithfulness to His covenant vows. It is a plea for God to act according to His own sovereign purpose and love, rather than according to Israel's deservingness, re-establishing their unique status as God's own.

#### Literary Devices
Moses' prayer in [Exodus 34:9](/exodus/34-9 "Moses' Intercession") is rich with literary artistry that amplifies its theological depth. The primary device is **Intercession**, where Moses acts as a pivotal mediator, standing between a holy God and a sinful people, a role he consistently fulfills throughout the Exodus narrative. His opening phrase, "If now I have found grace in thy sight," employs profound **Humility** and **Dependence**, setting a tone of earnest supplication rather than demand, acknowledging his position before the Almighty. The description of Israel as a "**stiffnecked** people" is a vivid **Metaphor** (specifically, a synecdoche, where the neck represents the whole person's stubbornness), drawing on the imagery of an unruly animal refusing to be led. This unflattering self-description functions as a powerful **Rhetorical Paradox**, as it is offered as a *reason* for God's continued grace, appealing to His boundless patience and mercy rather than Israel's merit. The pairing of "iniquity and our sin" demonstrates **Merism** or **Synonymic Parallelism**, using two related terms to encompass the full scope of their transgression, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the pardon needed. The entire prayer is a compelling example of **Pathos**, appealing directly to God's revealed character and compassion, demonstrating Moses' deep understanding of God's nature as the ultimate ground for hope.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 34:9 profoundly illustrates the nature of divine grace and the indispensable necessity of intercession in the face of human sin. It reveals that God's covenant faithfulness is not contingent on human perfection or merit but on His own steadfast character, which Moses appeals to directly. The verse highlights the profound tension between God's absolute holiness and humanity's pervasive sinfulness, demonstrating that reconciliation is possible only through divine initiative and a mediator's humble, persistent plea. It underscores the preciousness of God's active presence, which is the ultimate blessing for His people, and the transformative power of honest confession and comprehensive pardon in restoring a broken relationship, ultimately pointing to God's unwavering desire to maintain His people as His own.

* [Numbers 14:18-19](/numbers/14-18-19 "Numbers 14:18-19 - God's Forgiveness after Rebellion")
* [Psalm 103:8-10](/psalms/103-8-10 "Psalm 103:8-10 - The Lord's Compassion and Mercy")
* [Jeremiah 31:33-34](/jeremiah/31-33-34 "Jeremiah 31:33-34 - The New Covenant and Forgiveness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' prayer in [Exodus 34:9](/exodus/34-9 "Exodus 34:9 - Moses' Intercession") serves as a timeless model for our own approach to God, especially when confronting our failures and the brokenness of the world around us. It teaches us to come with profound humility, acknowledging our unworthiness and complete dependence on His grace, rather than relying on any perceived merit of our own. Like Moses, we are called to be earnest intercessors, not only for ourselves but for our communities, our nations, and even for those who are "stiffnecked" and rebellious against God. This verse reminds us that true spiritual vitality and effectiveness stem from God's active, abiding presence among us, and we should earnestly pray for Him to "go among us" in our churches, our families, and our personal lives. Furthermore, it underscores the absolute necessity of honest and unvarnished confession of sin as a prerequisite for experiencing God's comprehensive pardon and for being reclaimed as His cherished inheritance. Even when we fail spectacularly, God's enduring faithfulness and His desire to have us as His own remain steadfast, inviting us back into His gracious embrace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Moses' confession of Israel's "stiffnecked" nature challenge our own tendencies to justify or minimize our sins before God?**
* **In what ways do we, like ancient Israel, sometimes resist God's will, and how does this verse encourage us to seek His presence despite our stubbornness?**
* **What specific people or groups might God be calling you to intercede for today, drawing on His character of grace and mercy, even when their actions seem to defy it?**

### FAQ
**Why does Moses highlight Israel's "stiffnecked" nature when asking for God's favor?**

Answer: Moses' mention of Israel being a "stiffnecked people" (a recurring biblical description, also found in [Exodus 32:9](/exodus/32-9 "Exodus 32:9 - God's Description of Israel") and [Deuteronomy 9:6](/deuteronomy/9-6 "Deuteronomy 9:6 - Israel's Stubbornness")) is not an accusation but a profound theological statement. It serves as a basis for God's grace, rather than a reason for His judgment. By admitting their deep-seated obstinacy and rebellion, Moses appeals directly to God's character, which was just revealed as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" ([Exodus 34:6](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6 - God's Self-Revelation")). He is essentially saying, "Lord, only *Your* immense patience and boundless mercy can deal with such a rebellious people. Our unworthiness is precisely why we need Your grace." It highlights that God's love and forgiveness are extended not because we deserve them, but because of who He is—a God whose nature is to show compassion even to the undeserving.

**What is the significance of Moses' plea, "let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us"?**

Answer: This plea is central to Moses' prayer and Israel's very identity. For ancient peoples, the active, personal presence of their deity was paramount for their well-being, protection, and national identity. For Israel, God's presence (often manifested in the pillar of cloud and fire, the Tabernacle, or the Ark of the Covenant) signified His covenant faithfulness, His divine guidance, and His power to deliver them. After the golden calf incident, God threatened to send an angel instead of going Himself ([Exodus 33:3](/exodus/33-3 "Exodus 33:3 - God's Threat to Withdraw His Presence")), which Moses recognized as a catastrophic loss, effectively nullifying their unique status. Moses understood that without God's personal, active presence, Israel would lose its distinctiveness, its security, and its very reason for being. His fervent prayer for God to "go among us" is a plea for the full restoration of intimate fellowship and the continuation of God's unique, personal relationship with His people, underscoring that God's presence is their greatest treasure and ultimate security.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 34:9 finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Moses, as the great intercessor, standing between a holy God and a sinful people, powerfully foreshadows Christ, who is our [one Mediator between God and mankind](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - Christ, the One Mediator"). Just as Moses pleaded for God's presence to "go among us," the New Testament reveals that God's ultimate dwelling with humanity is found in the [incarnation of Jesus](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), the Word who "dwelt among us" (literally, "tabernacled" among us). The "stiffnecked" nature of Israel, which Moses so honestly confessed, points to the universal human condition of rebellion against God, a deep-seated stubbornness that only the radical, transforming grace of Christ can overcome. Jesus, through His [atoning sacrifice on the cross](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love"), not only pardons our "iniquity and our sin" but completely removes them, making us righteous in God's sight and reconciling us to Him. Furthermore, Moses' request for Israel to be taken as God's "inheritance" is profoundly fulfilled in Christ, who gathers a new people—the Church—from every tribe, tongue, and nation, making them [God's treasured possession](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood") through adoption into His family ([Ephesians 1:11-14](/ephesians/1-11-14 "Ephesians 1:11-14 - Our Inheritance in Christ")). In Christ, God's presence is not just among us but *in* us through the indwelling Holy Spirit ([John 14:16-17](/john/14-16-17 "John 14:16-17 - The Indwelling Spirit")), guaranteeing our eternal inheritance and transforming our rebellious hearts into willing vessels of His grace, enabling us to walk in newness of life.

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 33:12

¶ Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Deuteronomy 32:9

For the LORD'S portion [is] his people; Jacob [is] the lot of his inheritance.

Psalms 94:14

For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

Psalms 135:4

For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Exodus 33:13

Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation [is] thy people.

Exodus 33:17

And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Psalms 28:9

Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.