Exodus 33:23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 33:12-23

Moses, having returned to the door of the tabernacle, becomes a humble and importunate supplicant there for two very great favours, and as a prince he has power with God, and prevails for both: herein he was a type of Christ the great intercessor, whom the Father heareth always. I. He is very earnest with God for a grant of his presence with Israel in the rest of their march to Canaan, notwithstanding their provocations. The people had by their sin deserved the wrath of God, and for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:23

And I will take away mine hand ,.... As being covered with the hand may signify the obscurity of the former dispensation, the taking of it away may denote a more clear revelation of the grace and goodness of God in Christ, and so of the glory of it under the Gospel dispensation; and yet what is seen in this, in comparison of the reality of things as they are, or of the heavenly state, are but as next expressed: and thou shalt see my back parts ; which some understand of the humanity of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:12-23

Intercession and its reward. I. THE INTERCESSOR 'S POWER . 1 . God, who had disowned Israel, and refused to go with them, consents to go with him:—"My presence shall go with thee , and I will give thee rest." The first step in successful intercession for others is the receiving of power to serve God among them. This is the dropping which foretells the shower. 2 . God is brought back by persistent asking into the midst of Israel:—" I will do this thing also that thou... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:18-23

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:18-23

Shew me thy glory. On this incident, remark— I. THE GOOD MAN THIRSTS FOR EVER FULLER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE GLORY . The more he knows of God, the more he would know. The nearer he gets, he presses nearer still. He "longs" to see God's power and glory" ( Psalms 63:2 ). He prays to see as much of it as may be possible to him on earth. He will only be satisfied when admitted to the full vision of it in heaven ( Psalms 16:11 ; Psalms 17:15 ; 1 John 3:2 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:23

Thou shalt see my back parts. Literally, "my back." The anthropomorphisms of the passage are numerous and strong—they must, of course, be regarded as accommodations to human ideas. After the Divine Presence had passed by, Moses was to be permitted to look out, and would see so much of the Divine glory as he would be able to bear; but still something far short of that which he had desired to see. The explanation that "the back of God" means "his works—the consequences of his activity"... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 33:23

Exodus 33:23. I will take away my hand Speaking after the manner of men: As soon as the dazzling splendours of my majesty, termed, my face, which it is impossible for man to behold and live, are passed by, I will, by degrees, withdraw the cloud that limited and concealed those splendours, and thou shalt see my back parts, or those rays of my glory which are not too bright and piercing for mortal eyes to sustain. To explain this further, the face in man is the seat of majesty, and men are... 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

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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 33:18-23

Exodus 33:18-23. He said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory, &c.— Moses, having obtained from the Lord a merciful remission of the dread penalties denounced upon the Israelites, proceeds now to request a confirmation of his grace by a sight of his glory. Again, condescending to his petition, the Lord promises to make all his goodness pass before him, &c. Exo 33:19 from which one would conclude, that the glory which Moses was desirous to see, was some display of that mercy reserved for... read more

Group of Brands