Deuteronomy 4:12

On this occasion the people heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude ; there was no form or shape apparent to the eye. No man can see God's face ( Exodus 33:20 , Exodus 33:23 ); "no man hath seen God at any time" ( John 1:18 ); and though the nobles or elders of Israel who went up with Moses into the mount are said to have seen God, it is evident that what they saw was only some luminous manifestation of his glory, and not a form or shape of which a similitude could be made ( Exodus 24:9-17 ). Even Moses, with whom God said that he would speak mouth to month, and who should behold the similitude of God ( Numbers 12:8 ), was told that he could not see his face, his essential personality, but only his back, the reflection of his glory ( Exodus 33:18-23 ).