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Exodus 33:19

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And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

And he said {H559}, I will make all my goodness {H2898} pass {H5674} before thee, and I will proclaim {H7121} the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068} before {H6440} thee; and will be gracious {H2603} to whom I will be gracious {H2603}, and will shew mercy {H7355} on whom I will shew mercy {H7355}.

He replied, "I will cause all my goodness to pass before you, and in your presence I will pronounce the name of ADONAI. Moreover, I show favor to whomever I will, and I display mercy to whomever I will.

“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Commentary

Exodus 33:19 is a profound declaration by God to Moses, revealing critical aspects of His divine character and sovereignty. This verse occurs immediately after Moses' bold request to see God's glory (Exodus 33:18), a request God partially grants by promising to reveal His goodness and proclaim His name, rather than His full, unapproachable essence.

Context

Following the golden calf incident and the breaking of the first set of tablets, Moses intercedes passionately for Israel, seeking God's continued presence with them (Exodus 33:15). God assures Moses of His presence, and in this intimate moment, Moses asks to see God's glory. God responds by promising to reveal His attributes, particularly His goodness, mercy, and grace, while shielding Moses from the full impact of His unmediated glory (Exodus 33:20).

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The most striking aspect of this verse is God's declaration, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy." This emphasizes God's absolute freedom and unconditioned right to bestow favor and compassion. It is not based on human merit or entitlement but solely on His divine will and character. This theme is echoed in the New Testament by Paul in Romans 9:15.
  • Revelation of God's Character: God promises to make "all my goodness pass before thee" and to "proclaim the name of the LORD." This signifies a self-revelation of His intrinsic nature and attributes. The "goodness" (Hebrew: tuvi) encompasses the sum of God's perfections and benevolent qualities. To "proclaim the name of the LORD" (Hebrew: qara b'shem YHWH) is to declare His very being and character, which is further elaborated in Exodus 34:6-7.
  • Grace and Mercy: These are presented as fundamental attributes of God's character. Grace (Hebrew: chanan) refers to unmerited favor and kindness, while mercy (Hebrew: racham) denotes compassion, pity, and tender affection, often in response to suffering or distress. Both are freely given by God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrases used powerfully convey God's nature:

  • "My goodness" (טוּבִי, tuvi): Refers to the totality of God's moral excellence, benevolence, and perfection.
  • "Proclaim the name of the LORD" (קָרָא בְשֵׁם יְהוָה, qara b'shem YHWH): More than just speaking a word, it means to declare God's essential being, His attributes, and His covenant faithfulness.
  • "Gracious" (חָנַן, chanan): To show unmerited favor, to be favorably disposed, to pity.
  • "Mercy" (רָחַם, racham): To have compassion, to feel pity; often derived from the root meaning of a mother's womb, implying deep, tender affection.

Practical Application

Exodus 33:19 provides profound insights for believers today:

  • It fosters humility, reminding us that God's favor is a gift, not a right. Our salvation and blessings flow from His sovereign will and grace, not our own merit.
  • It offers immense comfort, knowing that God is inherently good, gracious, and merciful. Even when we don't understand His ways, His character is unchangingly compassionate.
  • It calls us to trust in God's sovereignty. We can rest in the knowledge that His decisions are perfect, and His mercy is available to those He chooses, demonstrating His boundless love, as seen in John 3:16.
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

  • Romans 9:15 (14 votes)

    For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

  • Romans 9:18 (14 votes)

    Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.

  • Ephesians 1:6 (8 votes)

    To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

  • Ephesians 1:8 (8 votes)

    Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

  • Jeremiah 31:14 (8 votes)

    And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 31:12 (7 votes)

    Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

  • Exodus 34:5 (6 votes)

    ¶ And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.