The Meaning of Exodus 33:23 Explained

Exodus 33:23

KJV: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

YLT: and I have turned aside My hands, and thou hast seen My back parts, and My face is not seen.'

Darby: And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see me from behind; but my face shall not be seen.

ASV: and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

Discover Exodus 33:23

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Exodus 33:23?

MEANING: What does Exodus 33:23 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Exodus 33:23 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Exodus 33:23?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I will take  away mine hand,  and thou shalt see  my back parts:  but my face  shall not be seen. 

What does Exodus 33:23 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 33:23 mean?

and I will take away - My hand and you shall see My back but My face not shall be seen -
וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ אֶת־ כַּפִּ֔י וְרָאִ֖יתָ אֲחֹרָ֑י וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֥א יֵרָאֽוּ ס

וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙  and  I  will  take  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
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.
כַּפִּ֔י  My  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
וְרָאִ֖יתָ  and  you  shall  see 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֲחֹרָ֑י  My  back 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אָחֹור  
Sense: the back side, the rear.
וּפָנַ֖י  but  My  face 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יֵרָאֽוּ  shall  be  seen 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 33:23?

Loading Information...

Similar Scriptures for Exodus 33:23

Exodus 33:20 [5]
John 1:18 [5]
1 Timothy 6:16 [4]
Job 11:7 [3]
1 Corinthians 13:12 [3]
Job 26:14 [3]