And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
God doesn't just grant Moses' request; He explicitly states He will "do this thing also", linking it to previous actions or promises. This highlights that God's faithfulness isn't a one-off event, but a continuous tapestry of grace, confirming His knowing love for Moses as the foundation for His ongoing commitment to His people.
And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the people’s disastrous golden calf incident, God initially declared He wouldn't go with them Himself, only sending an angel, which caused widespread mourning. Moses, in desperate intercession, pleaded that God's own presence was the only thing that would truly set them apart. This verse is God's response, confirming He will indeed go with them and acknowledging Moses' unique favor and personal relationship with Him.
Imagine a king who knows every single subject in his vast kingdom by name. This is a picture of God's intimate relationship with Moses.
In this verse, God declares, 'I know you by name.' This isn't just a casual acquaintance; it signifies a deep, personal relationship. Think of ancient rulers who might know their closest advisors or captains by name, but certainly not every common soldier.
God's knowing Moses 'by name' means He recognizes him, values him, and has a unique, personal connection with him. This knowledge isn't based on Moses' achievements alone, but on God's sovereign choice and his unique role in God's redemptive plan. It's a profound assurance of God's deliberate and loving attention to individuals within His grand design.
Why does God grant such intimate knowledge and presence? It's not because we're inherently worthy, but because of His unmerited grace.
The verse highlights that God's actions are a direct result of Moses finding 'favor in my sight.' This 'favor' speaks of God's special grace, His benevolent regard that is freely given, not earned. It's the foundation upon which their unique relationship is built.
This 'favor' isn't a reward for Moses' past deeds, but a divine enablement and a sign of God's pleasure in him, leading to further interaction and revelation. It's a beautiful picture of God's initiative in drawing near to humanity, offering His presence and deeper understanding to those who respond to His calling.
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YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The self-existent, covenant-keeping God of Israel. It is the personal name of God (Yahweh), derived from the verb 'to be,' signifying His eternal existence and faithfulness to His people.
yada' · Hebrew Verb
To know someone by name implies an intimate, personal, and elective relationship. In Scripture, it signifies God’s sovereign choice, deep personal acquaintance, and covenantal protection over an individual.
This passage highlights God's initial promise to Abraham to bless all nations through his offspring, setting the stage for God's ongoing commitment to His chosen people despite their failings, a theme echoed in Exodus 33 where God reaffirms His presence.
Deuteronomy 7:7-8This verse emphasizes that God's choice of Israel was not due to their size or merit, but solely out of His love and faithfulness, paralleling the idea in Exodus 33:17 that God's actions are rooted in His knowledge and favor towards Moses and His people.
Psalm 103:10-12This psalm speaks of God's steadfast love and mercy, which is not according to our sins, reflecting the grace God extends to Moses and Israel in Exodus 33, where despite their sinfulness, God chooses to go with them.
Isaiah 43:1-3This passage reassures the people that God will be with them through trials, that they are His, and He knows them by name, directly mirroring the assurance God gives Moses in Exodus 33:17 that He will go with them and knows Moses personally.
Matthew 7:7-8Jesus' teaching to 'ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you' encourages persistent prayer, just as Moses persistently prayed in Exodus 33 for God's presence, leading to God's affirmation of favor.
cambridgeExodus 33:17: "And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name."
17 . this thing also ] i.e., as the text stands, accompany you personally to Canaan ( v. 16): but, if vv. 14–16 (see on v. 14) stood originally after Exodus 34:9 , give Moses a knowledge of His ‘ways’ ( v. 13). In either case, the new paragraph would begin better at v. 18. and I know thee by name ] See on v. 12.
clarkeExodus 33:17: "And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name."
I will do this thing also - My presence shall go with thee, and I will keep thee separate from all the people of the earth. Both these promises have been remarkably fulfilled. God continued miraculously with them till he brought them into the promised land; and from the day in which he brought them out of Egypt to the present day, he has…
God doesn't just grant Moses' request; He explicitly states He will "do this thing also", linking it to previous actions or promises. This highlights that God's faithfulness isn't a one-off event, but a continuous tapestry of grace, confirming His knowing love for Moses as the foundation for His ongoing commitment to His people.
After the people’s disastrous golden calf incident, God initially declared He wouldn't go with them Himself, only sending an angel, which caused widespread mourning. Moses, in desperate intercession, pleaded that God's own presence was the only thing that would truly set them apart. This verse is God's response, confirming He will indeed go with them and acknowledging Moses' unique favor and personal relationship with Him.
After the people’s disastrous golden calf incident, God initially declared He wouldn't go with them Himself, only sending an angel, which caused widespread mourning. Moses, in desperate intercession, pleaded that God's own presence was the only thing that would truly set them apart. This verse is God's response, confirming He will indeed go with them and acknowledging Moses' unique favor and personal relationship with Him.
"And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”" — God doesn't just grant Moses' request; He explicitly states He will "do this thing also", linking it to previous actions or promises. This highlights that God's faithfulness isn't a one-off event,…
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Last reviewed October 2026