Exodus 33:18 - He said, “Please show me your glory.”
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What does "Exodus 33:18" mean?
In Exodus 33:18, when Moses says "Please show me your glory," he is making a profound and audacious request to see God in all His radiant majesty and divine essence. This request carries a lot of weight and meaning:
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
Context: This request comes after a series of intense interactions between Moses and God. God has expressed his displeasure with the Israelites' idolatry (the golden calf incident) and threatens to withdraw his presence from them. Moses intercedes and pleads for God's continued presence.
"Show me your glory": The Hebrew word for "glory" (kavod) refers to God's heavy weightiness, his honor, his splendor, and the manifestation of his divine attributes. It encompasses his power, majesty, holiness, and radiant being. It is more than just physical brightness; it's the visible manifestation of God's invisible character.
Moses's desire: Moses deeply desires a more intimate and profound relationship with God. He has experienced God's power and presence, but he longs for a deeper understanding and a more direct encounter with the divine. This request reflects Moses's yearning for a closer connection and a fuller revelation of God's nature.
The impossibility of the request: While Moses's desire is understandable, God explains that a full and direct viewing of His glory is impossible for mortals to endure. God tells Moses, "You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live." (Exodus 33:20). God's glory is so intense and overwhelming that it would be fatal for a human to experience it directly.
God's partial revelation: Despite the impossibility of a complete viewing, God grants Moses a partial revelation of his glory. He promises to pass by Moses and proclaim his name. God shields Moses in the cleft of a rock as his glory passes by, allowing Moses to see only his "back" (Exodus 33:21-23). This is interpreted as seeing the aftereffects or the fading radiance of God's glory. This partial revelation is a great privilege, but it still acknowledges the limitations of human capacity to comprehend the fullness of God.
In summary, Moses's request to see God's glory is a heartfelt desire for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. While a full revelation is impossible for mortals, God graciously grants Moses a partial glimpse of his glory, demonstrating his mercy and willingness to connect with humanity while acknowledging the inherent limitations of human capacity.
Exodus 33:18 - He said, “Please show me your glory.”
What does "Exodus 33:18" mean?
In Exodus 33:18, when Moses says "Please show me your glory," he is making a profound and audacious request to see God in all His radiant majesty and divine essence. This request carries a lot of weight and meaning:
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
Context: This request comes after a series of intense interactions between Moses and God. God has expressed his displeasure with the Israelites' idolatry (the golden calf incident) and threatens to withdraw his presence from them. Moses intercedes and pleads for God's continued presence.
"Show me your glory": The Hebrew word for "glory" (kavod) refers to God's heavy weightiness, his honor, his splendor, and the manifestation of his divine attributes. It encompasses his power, majesty, holiness, and radiant being. It is more than just physical brightness; it's the visible manifestation of God's invisible character.
Moses's desire: Moses deeply desires a more intimate and profound relationship with God. He has experienced God's power and presence, but he longs for a deeper understanding and a more direct encounter with the divine. This request reflects Moses's yearning for a closer connection and a fuller revelation of God's nature.
The impossibility of the request: While Moses's desire is understandable, God explains that a full and direct viewing of His glory is impossible for mortals to endure. God tells Moses, "You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live." (Exodus 33:20). God's glory is so intense and overwhelming that it would be fatal for a human to experience it directly.
God's partial revelation: Despite the impossibility of a complete viewing, God grants Moses a partial revelation of his glory. He promises to pass by Moses and proclaim his name. God shields Moses in the cleft of a rock as his glory passes by, allowing Moses to see only his "back" (Exodus 33:21-23). This is interpreted as seeing the aftereffects or the fading radiance of God's glory. This partial revelation is a great privilege, but it still acknowledges the limitations of human capacity to comprehend the fullness of God.
In summary, Moses's request to see God's glory is a heartfelt desire for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. While a full revelation is impossible for mortals, God graciously grants Moses a partial glimpse of his glory, demonstrating his mercy and willingness to connect with humanity while acknowledging the inherent limitations of human capacity.