Exodus 33 · Verse 18

Exodus 33:18

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
Exodus 33:18, King James Version

Exodus 33:18 in other translations

BSBThen Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
WEBMoses said, “Please show me your glory.”
ASVAnd he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory.
YLTAnd he saith, ‘Shew me, I pray Thee, Thine honour;'
DARBYAnd he said, Let me, I pray thee, see thy glory.
BBEAnd Moses said, O Lord, let me see your glory.
WebsterAnd he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.

What does Exodus 33:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 33:18-23
18-23. I beseech thee, show me thy glory--This is one of the most mysterious scenes described in the Bible: he had, for his comfort and encouragement, a splendid and full display of the divine majesty, not in its unveiled effulgence, but as far as the weakness of humanity would admit. The face, hand, back parts, are to be understood figuratively.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Show me thy glory - Moses probably desired to see that which constitutes the peculiar glory or excellence of the Divine nature as it stands in reference to man. By many this is thought to signify his eternal mercy in sending Christ Jesus into the world. Moses perceived that what God was now doing had the most important and gracious designs which at present he could not distinctly discover; therefore he desires God to show him his glory. God graciously promises to indulge him in this request as far as possible, by proclaiming his name, and making all his goodness pass before him, Exo 33:19. But at the same time he assures him that he could not see his face - the fullness of his perfections and the grandeur of his designs, and live, as no human being could bear, in the present state, this full discovery. But he adds, Thou shalt see my back parts, את אחרי eth achorai, probably meaning that appearance which he should assume in after times, when it should be said, God is manifest in the flesh. This appearance did take place, for we find God putting him into a cleft of the rock, covering him with his hand, and passing by in such a way as to exhibit a human similitude. John may have had this in view when he said, The Word was made flesh and dwelt Among us, full of grace and truth, and We Beheld His Glory. What this glory was, and what was implied by this grace and truth, we shall see in the succeeding chapter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 33:12-23

Moses is very earnest with God. Thus, by the intercession of Christ, we are not only saved from ruin, but become entitled to everlasting happiness. Observe here how he pleads. We find grace in God's sight, if we find grace in our hearts to guide and quicken us in the way of our duty. Moses speaks as one who dreaded the thought of going forward without the Lord's presence. God's gracious promises, and mercy towards…

Read the full comment on Exodus 33:12-23 →

Exodus 33:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.Marand he saidH559
הַרְאֵ֥נִיhar.'E.nishow meH7200
נָ֖אna'pleaseH4994
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כְּבֹדֶֽךָ\׃ke.vo.De.khaglory yourH3519

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 33:18

  • Revelation 21:23

    And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

  • Titus 2:13

    Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

  • Exodus 33:20

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

  • 1 Timothy 6:16

    Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:6

    For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  • John 1:18

    No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18

    But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

  • Psalms 4:6

    There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20; Ps 4:6; Joh 1:18; 2Co 3:18; 4:6; 1Ti 6:16; Tit 2:13; Re 21:23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 33:17

    And the Lord said unto Moses, I 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

    And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

  • Exodus 33:19

    And he said, I will make all 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.

Read all of Exodus 33

Exodus 33:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El entonces dijo: Ruégote que me muestres tu gloria.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Moïse dit: Fais-moi voir, je te prie, ta gloire.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach: Laß mich doch deine Herrlichkeit sehen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui ait: Ostende mihi gloriam tuam.