Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is the habitual nature of Moses' actions. He didn't just do this once; he regularly removed the veil to meet God and then veiled himself again before speaking to the people, highlighting the profound, transformative encounter with God that contrasted with how the people would receive his message. This wasn't just about a glowing face; it was about the sacred space between direct divine encounter and human communication.
Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following his intense encounter with God where he received new stone tablets of the Law, Moses began a practice of going into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord. When he entered God's presence, he would remove the veil that covered his face, and only put it back on after he emerged to speak with the Israelites, signifying a direct, unveiled communion with God. This act highlighted the awe-inspiring glory that radiated from him due to his time spent with the Lord, a glory so potent that the people initially feared it.
Why would Moses take off his veil to speak with God, only to put it back on when he left? It wasn't about hiding from the people, but something deeper.
This wasn't just a physical act, but a profound symbol of approaching the Lord.
A Sacred Ritual
Whenever Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to commune with God, he removed the veil. This signifies a shedding of all pretense and barriers. It's an act of entering God's immediate presence with an open heart, ready to receive His word.
The Symbol of Revelation
This act also foreshadowed the nature of God's direct revelation. When God speaks, there's an unhindered, radiant truth that is meant to be received. The veil was put back on after the encounter, to manage the outward effect of that divine contact, not to obscure the truth itself.
Moses' face shone after being in God's presence, but this glory wasn't permanent. What does this tell us about encountering God?
The shining of Moses' face after his time with God was a visible manifestation of divine glory. It showed that drawing near to God transforms us, imparting a radiance that reflects His presence.
The Glory of God's Presence
This radiance was a direct result of speaking with the LORD. It's a reminder that our encounters with God leave an imprint on us, illuminating our lives.
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A Symbol of the Old Covenant
The fact that Moses veiled his face because the people couldn't bear the sight, and later, the gradual fading of this glory, are interpreted in the New Testament as symbolic of the Old Covenant's dimmer light compared to the ongoing, transforming glory of the New Covenant through Christ.
This passage directly reflects on Moses' veil, explaining it symbolized the temporary nature of the Old Covenant, contrasting it with the open glory of the New Covenant through Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:18It expands on the transformation that comes from beholding the Lord's glory with an unveiled face, drawing a powerful parallel to Moses' radiant countenance and the spiritual illumination believers experience.
Exodus 33:11This verse describes the intimate way God spoke with Moses, setting the stage for the encounter in Exodus 34 where Moses' face shines after speaking with the Lord.
Exodus 33:18Moses' bold request to see God's glory is the catalyst for the events described in Exodus 34, including the shining of his face and the subsequent veiling.
Leviticus 8:35This verse highlights the constant need for priests to enter the Holy of Holies, paralleling Moses' repeated removal of the veil to commune with God, emphasizing the sacredness of God's presence.
cambridgeExodus 34:34: "But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded."
34 . went in before Jehovah ] viz. into the Tent of Meeting (which is here presupposed): cf. Exodus 25:22 , Numbers 7:89 . Comp. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 , noticing (1) that St Paul interprets the narrative allegorically, assigning as the reason why Moses used to put on the veil, not that the Israelites…
gillExodus 34:34: "But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded."
But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him,.... Went into the tabernacle to converse with him, to pray unto him, and inquire about any matter of difficulty respecting the people of Israel he was concerned for, which he often did: he took the vail off until he came out: and so when men…
What's easily missed here is the habitual nature of Moses' actions. He didn't just do this once; he regularly removed the veil to meet God and then veiled himself again before speaking to the people, highlighting the profound, transformative encounter with God that contrasted with how the people would receive his message. This wasn't just about a glowing face; it was about the sacred space between direct divine encounter and human communication.
Following his intense encounter with God where he received new stone tablets of the Law, Moses began a practice of going into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord. When he entered God's presence, he would remove the veil that covered his face, and only put it back on after he emerged to speak with the Israelites, signifying a direct, unveiled communion with God. This act highlighted the awe-inspiring glory that radiated from him due to his time spent with the Lord, a glory so potent that the people initially feared it.
Following his intense encounter with God where he received new stone tablets of the Law, Moses began a practice of going into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord. When he entered God's presence, he would remove the veil that covered his face, and only put it back on after he emerged to speak with the Israelites, signifying a direct, unveiled communion with God. This act highlighted the awe-inspiring glory that radiated from him due to his time spent with the Lord, a glory so potent that the people initially feared it.
"Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded," — What's easily missed here is the habitual nature of Moses' actions. He didn't just do this once; he regularly removed the veil to meet God and then veiled himself again before speaking to the peo…
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Last reviewed October 2026