Exodus 34:27 · Bible study
Exodus 34:27 Commentary: Write These Words
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the meaning of 'these words' in Exodus 34:27. How does God's command to Moses relate to the covenant with Israel?
Research Summary
- Meaning: God commands Moses to write the covenant terms, which form the basis of the renewed relationship with Israel.
- Key words: “write” (katav, H3789), “words” (davarim, H1697), “mouth” (peh, H6310), “cut a covenant” (karat berit, H3772 H1285).
- Main debate: Whether “these words” refer to the commands of vv. 11-26 or to the Ten Commandments. Most commentators favor the ritual decalogue.
- Theological theme: Covenant renewal and written revelation as the basis of relationship with God.
- Best use: Preaching and teaching on the authority of Scripture, the importance of covenant faithfulness, and God’s grace in renewing His promises.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The LORD also said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yahweh said to Moses, “Write these words; for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Write for thyself these words, for, according to the tenor of these words I have made with thee a covenant, and with Israel.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Jehovah said to Moses, Write thee these words; for after the tenor of these words have I made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Lord said to Moses: Write thee these words, by which I have made a covenant both with thee and with Israel.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y Jehová dijo á Moisés: Escribe tú estas palabras; porque conforme á estas palabras he hecho la alianza contigo|strong="H0854, H0854" y con Israel.
E o SENHOR disse a Moisés: Escreve tu estas palavras; porque conforme estas palavras fiz a aliança contigo e com Israel.
L’ Éternel dit à Moïse: Écris ces paroles; car c’ est conformément à ces paroles que je traite alliance avec toi et avec Israël.
Und der HERR sprach zu Mose: Schreib diese Worte: denn nach diesen Worten habe ich mit dir und mit Israel einen Bund gemacht.
Verder zeide de HEERE tot Mozes: Schrijf u deze woorden; want naar luid dezer woorden heb Ik een verbond met u en met Israel gemaakt.
Poi l’Eterno disse a Mosè: “Scrivi queste parole; perché sul fondamento di queste parole io ho contratto alleanza con te e con Israele”.
Zatem rzekł Pan do Mojżesza: Napisz sobie te słowa, bo według słów tych postanowiłem z tobą przymierze, i z Izraelem.
И сказал Господь Моисею: напиши себе слова сии, ибо в сих словах Я заключаю завет с тобою и с Израилем.
耶和華 吩咐 摩西 說：「你要將 這些 話 寫上，因為 我是按 這 話 與你 和 以色列 人立 約。」
And the Lord said to Moses, Put all these words in writing; for on them is based the agreement which I will make with you.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 34:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that “these words” refer to the commands recorded in Exodus 34:11-26, a series of religious and social stipulations (often called the “ritual Decalogue”). Gill and Keil & Delitzsch both state that these words form the terms of the covenant that God had just made with Israel after the golden calf incident. The Cambridge Bible notes that this verse is J’s parallel to the earlier covenant ceremony in Exodus 24:3-8, where Moses wrote the book of the covenant. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown explicitly identify “these words” as the ceremonial and judicial injunctions of vv. 11-26, while the rewriting of the Ten Commandments was done by God Himself. The consensus holds that God commanded Moses to write down these particular words because they are the concrete conditions on which the renewed covenant rests. The writing is a formal act, sealing the covenant relationship.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- The commands of vv. 11-26 (ritual Decalogue): Most commentators (Gill, Keil & Delitzsch, Cambridge, JFB) identify 'these words' as the preceding stipulations.
- The Ten Commandments: Verse 28 and Deuteronomy 4:13 refer to 'the words of the covenant, the ten commandments'; some traditions read v. 27 as referring to the same.
What is clear: God commanded Moses to write down specific covenant terms that formed the basis of the renewed relationship with Israel.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'these words' | The words refer to the covenant stipulations given in the immediate context (vv. 11-26). | Some traditions identify them with the Ten Commandments due to v. 28 and Deuteronomy 4:13; most modern commentators see them as the ritual decalogue. |
| Who wrote on the stone tablets? | God wrote the Ten Commandments on the tablets (Ex 34:1). | Ex 34:28 says 'he wrote', the subject is ambiguous; Jewish tradition holds God wrote the ten words while Moses wrote the other commands; Christian commentators differ. |
| Nature of the covenant | This is a renewal of the Sinai covenant after Israel's breach with the golden calf. | Some see it as a new covenant with modified terms; others (e.g., Keil & Delitzsch) view it as restoration of the original covenant, not a fresh conclusion. |
| The role of writing in faith | Writing preserves and authorizes the covenant for future generations. | Reformed traditions highlight sola scriptura; Catholic and Orthodox traditions include sacred tradition alongside written Scripture; both affirm the priority of God's word. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits within the narrative of covenant renewal after Israel’s golden calf apostasy (Exodus 32, 34). Earlier, Moses had broken the first stone tablets in anger (Ex 32:19). Now God commands him to cut new tablets and brings him back up Mount Sinai (Ex 34:1-4). After revealing His name and character (vv. 6-7), God declares that He is making a covenant (v. 10) and proceeds to list specific commands: warnings against covenanting with the Canaanites, instructions for the three annual pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Weeks, Ingathering), the consecration of the firstborn, and the rest of the Sabbath (vv. 11-26). These commands, often termed the “ritual Decalogue,” reflect the distinctive identity markers of Israel as a people set apart for Yahweh.
The phrase “after the tenor of these words” (KJV, ASV) translates the Hebrew al-pi, literally “according to the mouth of.” This expression, used also in Genesis 43:7 (Cambridge Bible), emphasizes that the covenant is established precisely on the basis of the spoken stipulations. The act of writing down these words, reminiscent of
formalizes the agreement and provides a permanent witness. In ancient Near Eastern treaty-making, written documents were often deposited in the sanctuary as binding records.“Moses wrote all Yahweh’s words, then rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.”
— Exodus 24:4 (WEB)
The immediate context also ties this command to Moses’ role as mediator. He writes the words; God writes the moral law on the tablets (Ex 34:1, 28). This distinction highlights that the covenant includes both enduring moral principles and specific ordinances designed to shape Israel’s worship and community life. The repeated emphasis on “these words” underscores that the relationship between God and Israel is not vague, but grounded in concrete, written instructions.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 34:27. The verse is stable across Hebrew manuscripts and the major versions. The only minor variation in translation is the rendering of the Hebrew phrase al-pi as “after the tenor of” (KJV, ASV) or “in accordance with” (WEB, BSB).
Reception History
The Geneva Bible (1599) includes a marginal note referencing this verse as part of the covenant renewal. Matthew Henry (1710) interprets the command to write as a repetition of the feast laws to prevent idolatry. Throughout church history, this verse has been cited to affirm the authority of written Scripture. In Jewish tradition, it is seen as part of the giving of the written Torah. Christians have seen in this verse a pattern for God’s word being preserved and passed down to every generation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- God Speaks and Commands Writing. Yahweh initiates the recording of His words. Moses is told to write, making the divine speech permanent and accessible.
- The Content Matters. “These words” are not abstract but refer to the specific commands of vv. 11-26. The covenant is defined by these concrete stipulations.
- The Covenant Is Based on the Words. God says, “in accordance with these words I have made a covenant.” The relationship is framed by what has been spoken and written. Grace and obedience go together.
Five-Point Outline
- Divine Initiative: God speaks and commands.
- Human Response: Moses writes (obedience in recording).
- Written Record: The words are fixed, not merely oral.
- Covenant Foundation: These words are the terms of the agreement.
- Community Inclusion: The covenant is with Moses and all Israel.
Illustration Hooks
- Think of a marriage renewal ceremony. The vows are not new, but after a breach the couple recommits. God renews His covenant with Israel after the golden calf, reiterating the terms.
- A legal contract signed and notarized makes the agreement official. God’s written words make the covenant binding.
- A teacher giving clear instructions for a group project: without writing them down, confusion arises. God ensures His expectations are recorded for future generations.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- How do Christians understand the relationship between the Sinai covenant stipulations and the new covenant in Christ?
- Why does God emphasize writing? What does this say about the importance of Scripture?
- How do we “write” God’s words in our own hearts and lives today?
Leading a Discussion
This small-group guide explores God’s command to Moses to write down the covenant terms. The passage highlights the importance of divine speech being recorded and the covenant being based on specific words. Use these questions to help your group move from observing the text to understanding its meaning for their lives.
Discussion Questions
- What does God command Moses to do? What is the significance of the act of writing?
- In the immediate context, what are “these words” referring to? (Read Exodus 34:11-26 if needed.)
- Why does God specify that He has made a covenant “in accordance with these words”? What does this tell us about the nature of God’s covenant?
- How does this covenant renewal relate to the golden calf incident? What does it reveal about God’s mercy and justice?
- Moses is instructed to write the words. How does written revelation function as a foundation for faith? Compare with Exodus 24:4-7.
- In what ways is God’s covenant with Israel similar to or different from our relationship with God through Christ? (Consider passages like Deuteronomy 4:13.)
- What practices can our group adopt to keep God’s words central, as Moses was commanded to write them?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 17:14 | Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.” |
| Exodus 24:4 | Moses wrote all Yahweh’s words, then rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. |
| Exodus 24:7 | He took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “We will do all that Yahweh has said, and be obedient.” |
| Exodus 34:10 | He said, “Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of Yahweh; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. |
| Deuteronomy 4:13 | He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets. |
| Deuteronomy 31:9 | Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke clarifies that the ten commandments were written by God's own finger on the front of the stone tablets, while the accompanying precepts recorded in Exodus were probably written by Moses on the back. He rejects the rabbinic notion that the letters were cut clear through the stone to be readable from both sides.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that "the ten commandments" in this passage likely refers to the ritual commands of verses 11-26, not the moral Decalogue of Exodus 20. In the original source, these commands formed the basis of the covenant, whereas Exodus 20's Decalogue is never presented that way in Exodus itself.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note stresses that God instructed Moses to write down the exact words He had spoken, because the covenant was established on the precise terms of those written words. The covenant's validity and content are fixed by the specific words God dictated, leaving no room for human alteration or interpretation.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the written record here may have been necessary because the earlier book of the covenant, along with the two stone tablets, was destroyed when Moses broke them. This renewed writing preserves the covenant terms again, with Moses acting as the people's mediator.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws a careful distinction: when God told Moses to write, He meant only the ceremonial and judicial commands listed earlier. The Ten Commandments themselves were inscribed directly by God on the new stone tablets, as the account in Deuteronomy confirms.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch see the radiance on Moses' face as a foresight and pledge of the glory God would eventually give to Israel as His treasured people. The glow proved Moses' intimate relationship with God and the glory of his office, while pointing beyond itself to the blessing the covenant held for the whole nation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes these commands repeat earlier instructions, but with a pressing reason: the Israelites had just made a golden calf and proclaimed their own feast in its honor. God now reinforces his appointed feasts to redirect their worship away from idols and back to himself.