Exodus 33:20

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

And he said, You can not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

American King James Version (AKJV)

And he said, You can not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

American Standard Version (ASV)

And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

But it is not possible for you to see my face, for no man may see me and still go on living.

Webster's Revision

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

World English Bible

He said, "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live."

English Revised Version (ERV)

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for man shall not see me and live.

Clarke's Exodus 33:20 Bible Commentary

No man see me, and live - The splendor would be insufferable to man; he only, whose mortality is swallowed up of life, can see God as he is. See 1 John 3:2. From some disguised relation of the circumstances mentioned here, the fable of Jupiter and Semele was formed; she is reported to have entreated Jupiter to show her his glory, who was at first very reluctant, knowing that it would be fatal to her; but at last, yielding to her importunity, he discovered his divine majesty, and she was consumed by his presence. This story is told by Ovid in his Metamorphoses, book iii., table iii., 5.

Barnes's Exodus 33:20 Bible Commentary

Such passages as this, being clearly in accordance with what we know of the relation of spiritual existence to the human senses, show how we are to interpret the expressions "face to face" Exodus 33:11; Deuteronomy 34:10, "mouth to mouth" Numbers 12:8, and others of the like kind. See Exodus 24:10; Isaiah 6:1; and compare John 14:9.

Wesley's Exodus 33:20 Bible Commentary

33:20 Thou canst not see my face - A full discovery of the glory of God would quite overpower the faculties of any mortal man. I will make all my goodness pass before thee - He had given him wonderful instances of his goodness in being reconciled to Israel; but that was only goodness in the stream, he would shew him goodness in the spring. This was a sufficient answer to his request: Shew me thy glory, saith Moses; I will shew thee my goodness, saith God. God's goodness is his glory; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy, more than by the glory of his majesty. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious - In bestowing his gifts, and is not debtor to any, nor accountable to any; all his reasons of mercy are fetched from within himself, not from any merit in his creatures, and I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy - For his grace is always free. He never damns by prerogative, but by prerogative he saves.

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