Exodus 33:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the Lord said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."

NIV: And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

NASB: The Lord said to Moses, 'I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.'

CSB: The Lord answered Moses, "I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name."

NLT: The Lord replied to Moses, 'I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

God is promising that His presence will continually go with Israel as they seek the Promised Land (Exodus 33:12–16). He withdrew, in some way, because the people violated the covenant ban on idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6; 33:1–3). Moses met with the Lord in a tent outside the Israelite camp, where they had personal, open conversations (Exodus 33:11). God has promised that His presence will accompany Israel; now He assured Moses that this will continue.

The Lord approves of Moses. Since God is all-knowing (Isaiah 40:28; 1 John 3:20), He would obviously know Moses' name. The point here is that the Creator is personally communicating with Moses. This is not a distant, uninvolved deity (Psalm 8:3–5). Their relationship is not generic. The Lord deeply, truly sees and understands who Moses is.

Exodus 33:17–23 is God's response to Moses' plea in the prior section (Exodus 33:12–16). The Lord agrees that He will go with Israel on their journey to the Promised Land (Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 33:1–3). Though Moses and God are speaking face-to-face (Exodus 33:11), the Lord's full glory is hidden. When Moses asks to see God's glory—to know Him perfectly—God points out that this would destroy a mortal man. Rather, the Lord plans to reveal Himself in a more limited way (Exodus 34:5–7).

God commands Israel to leave the Sinai region. They are to move on towards the Promised Land, but without the Lord's usual presence. Moses meets with God outside the camp and the Lord says He will once again accompany Israel. Moses asks to see the full glory of God. Since this would kill Moses, God arranges for a much more limited experience.

Israel fell into idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6) very soon after receiving God's laws against it (Exodus 20:3–6). Yet the Lord still plans to bring them into a Promised Land. In this chapter, the people are commanded to leave Sinai and head towards Canaan. But the covenant must be renewed (Exodus 34). Until then, there is a level of separation between the nation and their God.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 10/29/2025 1:44:35 PM