Exodus 33:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,

NIV: Then the Lord said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.

NASB: Then the Lord said, 'Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;

CSB: The Lord said, "Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock,

NLT: The Lord continued, 'Look, stand near me on this rock.

KJV: And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

NKJV: And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.

Moses asked to "see" God (Exodus 33:18). This suggests that Moses wanted to know God even more intimately (Exodus 33:11); to experience God in His completeness. But exposure to the unguarded nature of the Creator would be fatal (Exodus 33:20). Instead, the Lord explains how Moses can experience this indirectly (Exodus 34:5–7).

The plan is for Moses to come to a rocky place, where God will place him in a crevice or narrow cave (Exodus 33:22). God will not remove His "hand" from over that space until His glory is receding, so Moses can see the Lord's "back" (Exodus 33:23) Since God is not a physical being (John 4:24), these are analogies for our benefit, not literal descriptions of God's anatomy.

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 4:34:30 AM