Exodus 34:35
the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What’s easy to miss is that Moses’ radiant face wasn't a constant state, but something that recurred each time he finished speaking with God. He veiled his face not out of shame, but to manage the overwhelming, visible evidence of God's presence that was too intense for the people to bear.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "2 Corinthians 3:7", "connection": "This passage directly references the fading glory of Moses' face as an analogy for the Old Covenant's diminishing radiance compared to the New Covenant's enduring glory." }, { "reference": "2 Corinthians 3:13", "connection": "Paul explicitly uses Moses' veiling of his face as a symbol of the spiritual blindness that can prevent people from seeing the ultimate fulfillment of the Law in Christ." }, { "reference": "Exodus 33:18", "connection": "This verse immediately precedes the encounter where Moses asks to see God's glory, setting the stage for the experience that leads to his transformed appearance." }, { "reference": "Deuteronomy 34:7", "connection": "This verse mentions that Moses' eyesight was not dim and his strength had not abated even in old age, suggesting a lasting, divine vigor possibly related to his encounter with God." } ] }
Ever felt like you've been in God's presence so strongly that it felt like you were glowing? Moses experienced this literally, and the people noticed!
After spending time with God on Mount Sinai, Moses's face radiated a visible glory. It wasn't a subtle inner glow; the text says 'the skin of Moses' face shone.' This brilliance was a direct result of his intense, face-to-face communion with the Lord. It shows that encountering God profoundly impacts us, to the point where His glory can be made manifest even in our physical being. This wasn't a permanent state, but a recurring sign after his meetings with God.
Think about it: God's very presence is radiant and powerful. When we draw near to Him, His light begins to shine through us, reflecting His holiness and power back to the world. This divine radiance served as a constant reminder to the Israelites of Moses's unique connection with God.
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Why did Moses cover his face? Was he hiding something, or was it for a different, more profound reason?
Moses's act of veiling his face wasn't about hiding a fading glory or a personal inadequacy. Instead, it was a conscious decision to manage the overwhelming intensity of God's revealed glory. The shining was too powerful, too divine for the people to bear continually. It served as a signpost, indicating that direct, unmediated access to God was not yet possible for them in that era.
The veil symbolized the limitations of the Old Covenant. While Moses had unparalleled access to God, the full glory of God's presence was veiled from the people. This temporary measure protected them and also highlighted the need for a mediator and a future covenant that would remove such barriers.
Understand the original words
qaran · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the radiance, brilliance, or glow resulting from proximity to the presence and glory of God; it is a visible manifestation of divine holiness.
This passage draws a direct parallel between the fading glory on Moses' face and the ministry of the old covenant, highlighting the temporary nature of that glory.
2 Corinthians 3:13Paul uses the veil Moses wore as a metaphor for the spiritual blindness that prevented the Israelites from seeing the fulfillment of the Law in Christ, contrasting it with the openness of the new covenant.
2 Corinthians 3:18This verse contrasts the veiled glory of Moses with the unveiled glory of believers who, beholding the Lord, are transformed into His image, suggesting a deeper, ongoing transformation than Moses' momentary radiance.
Exodus 33:18This verse immediately precedes the account of Moses' encounter where his face shone, showing Moses' deep desire to see God's glory, which led to the visible manifestation described in Exodus 34:35.
Exodus 34:29This passage describes Moses' forty-day encounter with God before descending with the tablets, setting the stage for the luminous appearance of his face as a result of that intimate communion.
gillExodus 34:35: "And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him."
And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses's face shone,.... That is, not only when he came down from the mount, but whenever he came out of the tabernacle, where he had been inquiring of God, and conversing with him: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak…
expositorsExodus 34:1-35: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest."
CHAPTER XXXIV.THE VISION OF GOD.Exodus 34:1-35 It was when God had most graciously assured Moses of His affection, that he ventured, in so brief a cry that it is almost a gasp of longing, to ask, "Show me, I pray Thee, Thy glory" ( Exodus 33:18 ). We have seen how nobly this petition and the answer conde…
What’s easy to miss is that Moses’ radiant face wasn't a constant state, but something that recurred each time he finished speaking with God. He veiled his face not out of shame, but to manage the overwhelming, visible evidence of God's presence that was too intense for the people to bear.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "2 Corinthians 3:7", "connection": "This passage directly references the fading glory of Moses' face as an analogy for the Old Covenant's diminishing radiance compared to the New Covenant's enduring glory." }, { "reference": "2 Corinthians 3:13", "connection": "Paul explicitly uses Moses' veiling of his face as a symbol of the spiritual blindness that can prevent people from seeing the ultimate fulfillment of the Law in Christ." }, { "reference": "Exodus 33:18", "connection": "This verse immediately precedes the encounter where Moses asks to see God's glory, setting the stage for the experience that leads to his transformed appearance." }, { "reference": "Deuteronomy 34:7", "connection": "This verse mentions that Moses' eyesight was not dim and his strength had not abated even in old age, suggesting a lasting, divine vigor possibly related to his encounter with God." } ] }
{ "references": [ { "reference": "2 Corinthians 3:7", "connection": "This passage directly references the fading glory of Moses' face as an analogy for the Old Covenant's diminishing radiance compared to the New Covenant's enduring glory." }, { "reference": "2 Corinthians 3:13", "connection": "Paul explicitly uses Moses' veiling of his face as a symbol of the spiritual blindness that can prevent people from seeing the ultimate fulfillment of the Law in Christ." }, { "reference": "Exodus 33:18", "connection": "This verse immediately precedes the encounter where Moses asks to see God's glory, setting the stage for the experience that leads to his transformed appearance." }, { "reference": "Deuteronomy 34:7", "connection": "This verse mentions that Moses' eyesight was not dim and his strength had not abated even in old age, suggesting a lasting, divine vigor possibly related to his encounter with God." } ] }
"the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him." — What’s easy to miss is that Moses’ radiant face wasn't a constant state, but something that recurred each time he finished speaking with God. He veiled his face not out of shame, but to manage the…
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