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Exodus 33:20

God's holiness

18 Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”

19 “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

21 The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,

22 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
KJV
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
WEB
He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.”
ASV
And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live.
DARBY
And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for Man shall not see me, and live.
BLB
And He said, “You are not able to see My face, for a man shall not see Me and live.”
ÅB
Og han sa: Du kan ikke se mitt åsyn; for intet menneske kan se meg og leve.
OTB
Men han sa: «Du kan ikke se mitt ansikt, for intet menneske kan se meg og leve.»
B1930
Og han sa: Du kan ikke se mitt åsyn; for intet menneske kan se mig og leve.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 32:30

    So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

    Read in context

  • John 1:18

    No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

    Read in context

  • 1 Timothy 6:16

    He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 6:5

    Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

    Read in context

  • Judges 13:22

    “We are going to die,” he said to his wife, “for we have seen God!”

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 5:24

    and you said, “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him.

    Read in context

  • Judges 6:22

    When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”

    Read in context

  • Exodus 24:10

    and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

    Read in context