Exodus 33:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Moses said, "Please show me your glory."

NIV: Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

NASB: Then Moses said, 'Please, show me Your glory!'

CSB: Then Moses said, "Please, let me see your glory."

NLT: Moses responded, 'Then show me your glorious presence.'

KJV: And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

NKJV: And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

Moses already has a close relationship with the Lord (Exodus 33:11). He has seen and spoken with God in ways no other person has (Exodus 3:1–4). But he wants an even deeper knowledge of God. Asking to see God's glory is a request to experience God as God really is. Moses wants to "see" God in all His power and majesty. Some Jewish translations of this verse have Moses saying, "show me You." Moses was afraid to look at the Lord at their first encounter (Exodus 3:6). Now his passion to know God seeks an ultimate revealing.

It's a brave wish. It was assumed that looking on God, as He really is, would result in death (Genesis 32:30). The Lord will give Moses an extremely limited revelation, since exposing a mortal man to God's unfiltered divinity would indeed be fatal (Exodus 33:19–23). Moses and God have spoken "face to face" (Exodus 33:11), but Moses has not viewed the Lord's full glorious nature.

Exodus 33:17–23 is God's response to Moses' plea in the prior section (Exodus 33:12–16). The Lord agrees that He will go with Israel on their journey to the Promised Land (Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 33:1–3). Though Moses and God are speaking face-to-face (Exodus 33:11), the Lord's full glory is hidden. When Moses asks to see God's glory—to know Him perfectly—God points out that this would destroy a mortal man. Rather, the Lord plans to reveal Himself in a more limited way (Exodus 34:5–7).

God commands Israel to leave the Sinai region. They are to move on towards the Promised Land, but without the Lord's usual presence. Moses meets with God outside the camp and the Lord says He will once again accompany Israel. Moses asks to see the full glory of God. Since this would kill Moses, God arranges for a much more limited experience.

Israel fell into idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6) very soon after receiving God's laws against it (Exodus 20:3–6). Yet the Lord still plans to bring them into a Promised Land. In this chapter, the people are commanded to leave Sinai and head towards Canaan. But the covenant must be renewed (Exodus 34). Until then, there is a level of separation between the nation and their God.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 10/27/2025 4:36:01 AM