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Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh’s name.
Exodus 34:5 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
  • BSB And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD.
  • ESV The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
  • NKJV Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
  • NASB And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord.
  • NLT Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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

God descends in the cloud, stands with Moses, and proclaims His own name, Yahweh. God Himself reveals who He is.

Overview

In answer to Moses' earlier plea to see His glory, God comes down and proclaims His name. The self-revelation of God's name is the unveiling of His character and glory. This shows that we know God truly only as He graciously makes Himself known, supremely in His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • Exod 33:19He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim Yahweh’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”
  • Num 11:25Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.
  • Luke 9:34–35While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.
  • Exod 33:9When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses.
  • Num 11:17I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you not bear it yourself alone.
  • Prov 18:10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
  • Ps 102:21that men may declare Yahweh’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
  • Exod 19:18All of Mount Sinai smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
  • Deut 32:3For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name. Ascribe greatness to our God!
  • Isa 1:10Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
  • Num 14:17Now please let the power of the Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying,
  • 1 Kgs 8:10–12It came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled Yahweh’s house,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Exodus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Exodus 34:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ExodusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 34:5 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.