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Exodus 33:22

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And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

And it shall come to pass, while my glory {H3519} passeth by {H5674}, that I will put {H7760} thee in a clift {H5366} of the rock {H6697}, and will cover {H5526} thee with my hand {H3709} while {H5704} I pass by {H5674}:

When my glory passes by, I will put you inside a crevice in the rock and cover you with my hand, until I have passed by.

and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by:

Commentary

Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Moses' encounter with God on Mount Sinai. Following the devastating incident of the golden calf, Moses intercedes passionately for the Israelite people, and for God's continued presence among them. He then makes a bold request: "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory" (Exodus 33:18). This verse describes God's gracious, yet carefully controlled, response to Moses' profound desire for a deeper revelation of the divine.

Key Themes

  • Divine Holiness and Inaccessibility: The verse underscores the absolute holiness and transcendent nature of God. He explicitly states in the preceding verse that "no man shall see me, and live" (Exodus 33:20), indicating that His full, unmediated glory is too immense for human eyes in their fallen state. The protective measures taken here highlight this divine boundary.
  • God's Personal Protection: The imagery of being placed "in a clift of the rock" and covered "with my hand" vividly portrays God's meticulous care and protective nature. He doesn't just reveal Himself; He ensures Moses' safety during this overwhelming encounter. The "clift of the rock" serves as a divine refuge, a safe haven from the full intensity of God's unmediated presence.
  • The Nature of God's Revelation: This event is a *theophany*, a manifestation of God, but it's a partial one. Moses sees God's "back parts" (Exodus 33:23) after His glory passes by, not His full face. This sets a precedent for how God often reveals Himself to humanity—mediated or veiled—until the ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ, who is the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "clift of the rock" comes from the Hebrew word neqarah (נְקָרָה), meaning a fissure, cleft, or crevice. It suggests a natural, yet divinely chosen, hiding place where Moses could be shielded. The phrase "cover thee with my hand" uses the Hebrew word kaph (כַּף), referring to the palm or hollow of the hand. This emphasizes a tender, personal, and complete enclosure, signifying intimate divine protection. This imagery of God's protective hand is echoed throughout Scripture, such as in Psalm 91:4, where God covers His people with His feathers.

Practical Application

Exodus 33:22 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Reverence for God's Majesty: This verse reminds us of God's transcendent holiness and power. While we are invited into a personal relationship, we must never lose sight of His divine majesty and awe-inspiring nature. Approaching God requires humility and reverence.
  • Trust in Divine Protection: Just as God protected Moses from the overwhelming force of His glory, He promises to be our refuge and strength. We can trust in His "hand" to shield us from overwhelming circumstances, spiritual dangers, or the trials of life, finding our "clift of the rock" in His unwavering presence and promises. As Psalm 18:2 declares, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer."
  • Seeking God's Presence: Moses' intense desire to see God's glory should inspire us to seek a deeper relationship with the Lord. While we cannot see God's full glory in this life, we are invited to seek His presence through prayer, His Word, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, knowing He will reveal Himself in ways we can safely apprehend and understand.
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 91:1 (8 votes)

    ¶ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

  • Psalms 91:4 (6 votes)

    He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.

  • Isaiah 2:21 (6 votes)

    To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

  • Isaiah 32:2 (5 votes)

    And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:4 (5 votes)

    And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:19 (4 votes)

    To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

  • Psalms 18:2 (4 votes)

    The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.