The Meaning of Exodus 33:18 Explained

Exodus 33:18

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

YLT: And he saith, 'Shew me, I pray Thee, Thine honour;'

Darby: And he said, Let me, I pray thee, see thy glory.

ASV: And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Exodus 33:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 33:12-23 - God's Presence Promised And His Glory Shown
When Moses found himself alone with God he made two outstanding requests:
(1) For God's presence. "If thou dost not go with me, I cannot go; angels are not enough. They are fair, and sweet, and strong, but I want thee. Wilt thou leave me-a lonely man-to thread these desert wastes with this people? Thou hast put the burden on me, and thou canst not leave me to carry it alone!" It is good when a man gets to close grips with God, and it was to him according to his faith. See Exodus 33:14.
(2) For a vision of God's glory. Again the answer came as he asked-"I will put thee in a cleft of the rock." The sides of the mountains are rent and scarred; but who can tell the anguish of Him who was "marred" for us? Yet, in the cleft wound of His side there is room for us to hide. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me!" On Calvary, a niche was hollowed out in which a world of sinners may find shelter. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 33

1  The Lord refuses to go as he had promised with the people
4  The people mourn there
7  The tabernacle is removed out of the camp
9  The Lord talks familiarly with Moses
12  Moses prevails with God, and desires to see his glory

What do the individual words in Exodus 33:18 mean?

And he said show me please - Your glory
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַרְאֵ֥נִי נָ֖א אֶת־ כְּבֹדֶֽךָ

וַיֹּאמַ֑ר  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַרְאֵ֥נִי  show  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
נָ֖א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כְּבֹדֶֽךָ  Your  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.