Deep Dive

Exodus 34:3

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No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain—not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

Deep diveReferences (6)

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 3

God having in the foregoing chapter intimated to Moses his reconciliation to Israel, here gives proofs of it, proceeding to settle his covenant and communion with them. Four instances of the return of his favour we have in this chapter: - I. The orders he gives to Moses to come up to the mount, the next morning, and bring two tables of stone with him (Exo 34:1-4). II. His meeting him there, and the proclamation of his name (Exo 34:5-9). III. The instructions he gave him there, and his converse with him for forty days together, without intermission (v. 10-28). IV. The honour he put upon him when he sent him down with his face shining (Exo 34:29-35). In all this God dealt with Moses as a public person, and mediator between him and Israel, and a type of the great Mediator.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 3

אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אַל (ʼal, H408) — not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);… רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… מוּל (mûwl, H4136) — properly, abrupt, i.e. a precipice; by implication, the front; used only adverbially…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Exodus 19:21rank 4

and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.

Leviticus 16:17rank 2

No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel.

Hebrews 12:20rank 2

For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

I Timothy 2:5rank 2

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

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