When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mountain, Moses didn’t know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him.
Parallel translations
- KJV And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
- BSB And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD.
- NKJV Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
- NASB And it came about, when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.
- NLT When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Coming down Sinai with the tablets, Moses' face shines from being with God, though he himself is unaware.
Overview
Prolonged communion with God left a visible radiance on Moses' face, a reflected glory he did not even notice. This sign confirmed Moses as God's mediator and the Law as truly from heaven. Paul contrasts this fading glory with the surpassing, lasting glory believers behold in Christ, into whose image they are being transformed (2 Corinthians 3:7-18).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Matt 17:2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
- Luke 9:29As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.
- Exod 32:15Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other they were written.
- Rev 1:16He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- 2 Cor 3:7–9But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:
- 2 Cor 3:13and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.
- Rev 10:1I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
- Acts 6:15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
- John 5:13But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.
- Acts 12:9And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
- Acts 23:5Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
- Josh 8:14When the king of Ai saw it, they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he didn’t know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
- Mark 9:6For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.
- Luke 2:49He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
- Judg 16:20She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” He awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free.” But he didn’t know that Yahweh had departed from him.
- Josh 2:4The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from.
- Exod 16:15When the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat.”
- Mark 14:40Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 34:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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