Exodus 33:23
New International Version
Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

New Living Translation
Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”

English Standard Version
Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

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

New King James Version
Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

New American Standard Bible
Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

NASB 1995
“Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

NASB 1977
“Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I will remove My hand, and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

Amplified Bible
Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen.”

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

Contemporary English Version
Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back. You will not see my face.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then I will take my hand away, and you'll see my back, but my face must not be seen."

Good News Translation
Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back but not my face."

International Standard Version
Then I'll remove my hand so you may see my back, but my face must not be seen."

Majority Standard Bible
Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

NET Bible
Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen."

New Heart English Bible
then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

World English Bible
then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and I have turned aside My hands, and you have seen My back parts, and My face is not seen.”

Young's Literal Translation
and I have turned aside My hands, and thou hast seen My back parts, and My face is not seen.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And I turned aside my hand, and thou sawest behind me: and they shall not see my face.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face thou canst not see.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back. But my face you are not able to see.”

New American Bible
Then I will remove my hand, so that you may see my back; but my face may not be seen.

New Revised Standard Version
then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And as my glory passes by, I shall put you in the cave of flint and I shall rest my hand over you until I shall pass:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will take away My hand, and thou shalt see My back; but My face shall not be seen.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will remove my hand, and then shalt thou see my back parts; but my face shall not appear to thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Glory of the LORD
22and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

Cross References
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Colossians 1:15
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

John 14:9
Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 6:46
not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.

1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Revelation 22:4
They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

Isaiah 6:1-5
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. / Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” ...

Genesis 32:30
So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Deuteronomy 34:10
Since that time, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face—

Numbers 12:8
I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

Job 42:5-6
My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You. / Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

thou shalt

Exodus 33:20
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Job 11:7
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Job 26:14
Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

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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














Then I will take away My hand
In this phrase, God is speaking directly to Moses, indicating a moment of divine revelation. The Hebrew word for "hand" is "yad," which often symbolizes power and protection. Here, God's hand represents a barrier between Moses and the full glory of God. The act of taking away His hand signifies a controlled revelation, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the careful balance between His holiness and human frailty. Historically, this moment underscores the unique relationship between God and Moses, where God reveals Himself in a way that is both intimate and protective.

and you will see My back
The phrase "My back" is intriguing and has been the subject of much theological discussion. The Hebrew word "achor" can mean "back" or "behind," suggesting that Moses will see the aftereffects or the trailing glory of God, rather than His full presence. This is a profound moment, as it illustrates the concept that no one can see God's face and live (Exodus 33:20). Theologically, it speaks to the transcendence of God, who is beyond full human comprehension, yet graciously reveals Himself in ways that are accessible to us.

but My face must not be seen
The word "face" in Hebrew is "panim," which often denotes presence or the full essence of a person. In the context of God, His face represents His full glory and holiness. The prohibition against seeing God's face is a reminder of the vast chasm between divine holiness and human sinfulness. It serves as a humbling reminder of our limitations and the need for reverence in approaching God. This phrase also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of God through Jesus Christ, who makes the invisible God known (John 1:18), bridging the gap between humanity and the divine.

Verse 23. - Thou shalt see my back parts. Literally, "my back." The anthropomorphisms of the passage are numerous and strong - they must, of course, be regarded as accommodations to human ideas. After the Divine Presence had passed by, Moses was to be permitted to look out, and would see so much of the Divine glory as he would be able to bear; but still something far short of that which he had desired to see. The explanation that "the back of God" means "his works - the consequences of his activity" (Kalisch) is fanciful, and not borne out by the context. My face cannot be seen. See above, ver. 20; and. compare John 1:18; John 6:46; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 4:12.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I will take My hand
כַּפִּ֔י (kap·pî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

away,
וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ (wa·hă·si·rō·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

and you will see
וְרָאִ֖יתָ (wə·rā·’î·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

My back;
אֲחֹרָ֑י (’ă·ḥō·rāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 268: The hinder part, behind, backward, the West

but My face
וּפָנַ֖י (ū·p̄ā·nay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

must not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be seen.”
יֵרָאֽוּ׃ (yê·rā·’ū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see


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OT Law: Exodus 33:23 Then I will take away my hand (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 33:22
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