Exodus 33:9

⁷ Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.

⁸ Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent.

As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.

¹⁰ When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.

¹¹ Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

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: As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
KJV: And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.
WEB: When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and the LORD spoke with Moses.
ASV: And it came to pass, when Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the Tent: and [Jehovah] spake with Moses.
DARBY: And it came to pass when Moses entered into the tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and [Jehovah] talked with Moses.
BLB: And it came to pass, as Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud descended and it remained [at] the door of the tabernacle, and He talked with Moses.

ÅB: Og når Moses var kommet inn i teltet, da senket skystøtten seg og sto i døren til teltet, og han[^1] talte med Moses.
OTB: Når Moses gikk inn i teltet, ville skyens søyle stige ned og bli stående ved inngangen, og Herren ville tale med Moses.
B1930: Og når Moses var kommet inn i teltet, da senket skystøtten sig og stod i døren til teltet, og han talte med Moses. / < Herren.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 99:7
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them.
Read in context
Genesis 18:33
When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.
Read in context
Exodus 31:18
When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
Read in context
Ezekiel 3:22
And there the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He said to me, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak with you.”
Read in context
Exodus 25:22
And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.
Read in context
Exodus 34:3
No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain—not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.”
Read in context
Exodus 13:21–22
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.
Read in context
Exodus 34:9
“O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
Read in context