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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:19

I will make all my goodness pass before thee . It is not quite clear what this means, or how it was fulfilled—whether the reference is to the revelation of God's goodness in Exodus 34:7 , or to the entire experience that Moses would have of God in his later life. It is against the former view, that, if we take it, we can assign to the ensuing clause no distinct and separate sense. I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee . See Exodus 34:5 , Exodus 34:6 . And I will be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:19

Divine sovereignty. On this note— I. GOD IS SOVEREIGN IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS MERCY . He dispenses it to whom he will. He is free and unconstrained in its bestowal. The sinner cannot claim it as a right. He is not entitled to reckon upon it, save as the free promise of God gives him a warrant to do so. He dare not dictate to God what he shall do. God is sovereign as respects He gives no account of his matters to any one. He allows none to challenge him. II. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:20

No man can see me and live. The inability proclaimed in these words is not an absolute inability to see God, but an inability to see and survive the sight. Jacob, when he wrestled with the angel, marvelled that he could see God, even in that intermediate way, and live ( Genesis 32:30 ). It may well be that actually to see God, while we are in the flesh, would kill us. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 33:19-20

But his request could not be granted in accordance with the conditions of human existence. The glory of the Almighty in its fulness is not to be revealed to the eye of man. Compare Judges 6:22; Isaiah 6:5. A further revelation of the divine goodness was however possible (see Exodus 33:6-7).It was vouchsafed to Paul, as it had been to Moses, to have special “visions and revelations of the Lord” 2 Corinthians 12:1-4. But he had, also like Moses, to find the narrow reach of the intellect of man in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 33:19

Exodus 33:19. I will make my goodness pass before thee Moses’s request was to see God’s glory, and God answers him by promising to show him his goodness; intimating that, however, in themselves, all God’s attributes are glorious, yet he glories most in the manifestation of his goodness, and that his creatures need this most. Pass before thee So that thou mayest at least have a transient view of it. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious I will show this peculiar favour to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 33:20

Exodus 33:20. Thou canst not see my face The full display of my glory, that light inaccessible, before which the angels stand, but which would be insufferable to mortal eyes; this no man can see and live. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:1-23

Assurance of God’s presence (33:1-23)Because of his mercy God allowed the people to continue their journey to the land he had promised their ancestors, but because of their sin he could not go with them lest he destroy them. However, he promised to send a heavenly representative to go before them into Canaan. He also required the people to give a clear outward sign of mourning for their past sin and the loss of fellowship with God that resulted from it (33:1-6).God’s refusal to go with Israel... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 33:19

goodness . The glory could not have been endured; grace comes first, glory is reserved for the future. I will proclaim the name . This is done in Exodus 34:5-7 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 33:20

see My face . Compare notes on Exodus 23:15 with Exodus 34:20 . man . Hebrew 'adder. App-14 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 33:18-23

MOSES REQUESTS TO SEE GOD"And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory. 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. And he said, thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see my face and live. And Jehovah said, Behold there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by,... read more

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