📖 Exodus — Chapter 33 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Exodus 33:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, RDepart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:
Exodus 33:2 And I will send Ran angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
Exodus 33:3 Unto Ra land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
Exodus 33:4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, Rthey mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
Exodus 33:5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, RYe are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
Exodus 33:6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.
Exodus 33:7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, Rafar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
Exodus 33:8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, Rand stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
Exodus 33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the Rcloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
Exodus 33:10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and Rworshipped, every man in his tent door.
Exodus 33:11 And the LORD Rspake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Exodus 33:12 And Moses said unto the LORD, RSee, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, Rshew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
Exodus 33:14 And he said, RMy presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
Exodus 33:15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
Exodus 33:16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not Rin that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
Exodus 33:17 And the LORD said unto Moses, RI will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
Exodus 33:18 RAnd he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
Exodus 33:19 And he said, I will make Rall my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Exodus 33:20 And he said, RThou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Exodus 33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a Rplace by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
Exodus 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee Rin a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Exodus 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and Rthou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Exodus 33:1–6 — The People Mourn
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD directs Moses toward the land promised to the fathers, but warns that his presence in their midst would consume this stiffnecked people. The people mourn the warning and remove their ornaments. The passage shows that reaching a good land does not remove their need for the LORD.
Key Truth: Israel must take God's warning seriously rather than presume upon his presence.
Check What You Remember
1. With what two things was the promised land said to flow? (Exodus 33:3)
Find it in Exodus 33:3 (KJV).
2. How did the people respond to the evil tidings? (Exodus 33:4)
Find it in Exodus 33:4 (KJV).
3. What did they strip off? (Exodus 33:6)
Find it in Exodus 33:6 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Exodus 33:7–11 — Seeking the LORD Outside the Camp
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Moses pitches the tabernacle of the congregation outside the camp. Those seeking the LORD go out to it. The cloudy pillar stands at its door while the LORD speaks with Moses as a man speaks with his friend. Joshua remains there when Moses returns to the camp.
Key Truth: The people are directed to seek the LORD, whose communication with Moses guides them.
Check What You Remember
1. Where was this tabernacle pitched in relation to the camp? (Exodus 33:7)
Find it in Exodus 33:7 (KJV).
2. What descended at its door when Moses entered? (Exodus 33:9)
Find it in Exodus 33:9 (KJV).
3. Who remained in the tabernacle? (Exodus 33:11)
Find it in Exodus 33:11 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Exodus 33:12–23 — God's Presence and Glory
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Moses asks to know God's way and insists that his presence is essential for the people. The LORD promises his presence and rest. When Moses asks to see God's glory, God promises to show his goodness while protecting Moses, who cannot see God's face and live. The intimate speech in verse 11 is not a claim that Moses sees God's face without this limitation.
Key Truth: God's presence is essential, and his revelation is given on his own terms.
Check What You Remember
1. What did the LORD promise would go with Moses? (Exodus 33:14)
Find it in Exodus 33:14 (KJV).
2. What did Moses ask the LORD to show him? (Exodus 33:18)
Find it in Exodus 33:18 (KJV).
3. Where would God place Moses while his glory passed by? (Exodus 33:22)
Find it in Exodus 33:22 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why do the tidings about God’s presence lead the people to mourn?
2. How does the tabernacle’s position affect those seeking the LORD?
3. How does the people’s worship accompany Moses’ entrance?
4. Why does Moses insist that they should not move without God’s presence?
5. How are revelation and protection joined when God’s glory passes?
Notes
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