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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- 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 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
- Luke 9:29And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
- Exod 32:15And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
- Rev 1:16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- 2 Cor 3:7–9But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
- 2 Cor 3:13And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
- Rev 10:1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
- Acts 6:15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
- John 5:13And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
- Acts 12:9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
- Acts 23:5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
- Josh 8:14And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
- Mark 9:6For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
- Luke 2:49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
- Judg 16:20And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
- Josh 2:4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
- Exod 16:15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
- Mark 14:40And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they 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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