Exodus 34:31-35 · Bible study
Exodus 34:31-35 Commentary: Moses the Mediator
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Aaron and the leaders flee from Moses' shining face; Moses calls them back. Study the mediator's role, the veil, and the glory of the old covenant.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Moses' radiant face reflects God's glory; he veils himself to lead the fearful people while maintaining direct access to God.
- Key words: Shone (קָרַן, qaran, “sent out rays”), veil (מַסְוֶה, masveh, “covering”), remove (סוּר, sur, “turn aside”).
- Main debate: Did the veil hide the radiance to prevent fear, or to conceal its fading glory? Paul adopts the latter view in 2 Cor 3.
- Theological theme: Mediation between holy God and sinful people; the old covenant's indirect glory compared to the direct access through Christ.
- Best use: To illustrate the transition from law to gospel, and to highlight the role of a mediator who invites fearful people into God's presence.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
31But Moses called out to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke to them.
32And after this all the Israelites came near, and Moses commanded them to do everything that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai.
33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
34But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. And when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded,
35and the Israelites would see that the face of Moses was radiant. So Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
31Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them.
32Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them all the commandments that Yahweh had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
33When Moses was done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.
34But when Moses went in before Yahweh to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35The children of Israel saw Moses’ face, that the skin of Moses’ face shone; so Moses put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
KJV King James Version 1769
31And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
32And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
33And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
34But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
31And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses spake to them.
32And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that Jehovah had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
33And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.
34But when Moses went in before Jehovah to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
31And Moses calleth unto them, and Aaron and all the princes in the company return unto him, and Moses speaketh unto them;
32and afterwards have all the sons of Israel come nigh, and he chargeth them with all that Jehovah hath spoken with him in mount Sinai.
33And Moses finisheth speaking with them, and putteth on his face a vail;
34and in the going in of Moses before Jehovah to speak with Him, he turneth aside the vail until his coming out; and he hath come out and hath spoken unto the sons of Israel that which he is commanded;
35and the sons of Israel have seen the face of Moses that the skin of the face of Moses hath shone, and Moses hath put back the vail on his face until his going in to speak with Him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
31And Moses called to them; and they turned to him, — Aaron and all the principal men of the assembly; and Moses talked with them.
32And afterwards, all the children of Israel came near; and he gave them in commandment all that Jehovah had spoken with him on mount Sinai.
33And Moses ended speaking with them; and he had put on his face a veil.
34And when Moses went in before Jehovah to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel what he was commanded.
35And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone; and Moses put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
31And being called by him, they returned, both Aaron and the rulers of the congregation. And after that he spoke to them,
32And all the children of Israel came to him: and he gave them in commandment all that he had heard of the Lord on Mount Sinai.
33And having done speaking, he put a veil upon his face.
34But when he went in to the Lord, and spoke with him, he took it away until he came forth, and then he spoke to the children of Israel all things that had been commanded him.
35And they saw that the face of Moses when he came out was horned, but he covered his face again, if at any time he spoke to them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 34:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the radiance on Moses' face was a direct reflection of God's glory after his forty days on Sinai (Keil & Delitzsch, Cambridge Bible). When Moses descended with the tablets, Aaron and the leaders were terrified and retreated (Gill, Matthew Henry). Moses called them back, reassuring them, and proceeded to deliver all the commandments God had given him (Geneva Notes, Barnes). He then put a veil on his face, removing it only when entering God's presence or speaking God's words to the people (Cambridge, Keil & Delitzsch). The veil served both a practical purpose, the people could not bear the radiant glory, and a symbolic one, pointing to the veiled and temporary nature of the Mosaic covenant (Wesley, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Paul later interprets the veil as hiding the fading glory of the law, contrasting it with the permanent, unveiled glory of the gospel in Christ (Clarke, Wesley).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Protective veil view: Moses veiled because the people could not bear the brightness; the veil shielded them from overwhelming glory (Cambridge, Gill).
- Fading glory view: The veil concealed the temporary nature of the radiance; Paul states the glory was fading, contrasting it with the lasting glory of the gospel (Paul in 2 Cor 3:13, Wesley).
What is clear: Moses' face shone from his encounter with God; the people were afraid and retreated; Moses called them forward and delivered God's commands; he wore a veil when not speaking with God or delivering revelation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the veil | Moses used a veil after speaking to the people or when not actively delivering God's commands. | Some see it as protecting the people from a glory they could not bear (Cambridge, Gill). Others, following Paul, see it as concealing the fading glory of the law (Wesley, Clarke, 2 Cor 3:13). |
| Nature of the radiance | The radiance was a reflection of God's glory from Moses' time on the mountain. | Was this a permanent change in Moses' appearance (Keil & Delitzsch, Cambridge) or a temporary glow that faded (Paul's reading in 2 Cor 3)? The text does not say explicitly, but Paul's allegory assumes transience. |
| Use in Christian theology | Paul's interpretation in 2 Corinthians 3 is the most influential theological use of this passage. | Is Paul providing a proper typological reading of the narrative, or is he making an allegorical application? Most theologians see it as typology, with Moses as a type of Christ. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage concludes the narrative of the covenant renewal after Israel's sin with the golden calf (Exodus 32, 34). Moses had begged God not to abandon the people, and God revealed his glory to Moses on the mountain (Exodus 33:18, 23; 34:5, 7). The radiance on Moses' face was the afterglow of that encounter, a visible sign of his unique relationship with God. In the ancient Near East, a shining face marked a person who had been in the presence of a deity; it authenticated the messenger's authority. The people's fear mirrors their terror at Sinai when God descended in fire and smoke (Exodus 19:16, 19).
Moses acted as mediator: he called the frightened leaders forward, spoke God's words, then veiled his face when not actively transmitting revelation. The tent of meeting (tabernacle) became the place where Moses would remove the veil and speak with God face to face. The pattern of veil on and off became a regular practice, signaling that direct access to God was limited to Moses and that even his reflected glory needed to be veiled for the people's sake. The transient nature of the radiance, implied by Moses' eventual death, would later be highlighted by Paul to contrast the fading glory of the law with the eternal glory of the gospel.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant manuscript variants for Exodus 34:31, 35. The main translational difference is the rendering of קָרַן (qaran) in verse 29: the Vulgate translated it as cornuta (“horned”), leading to artistic depictions of Moses with horns. This affects how the radiance is understood, rays of light versus literal horns, but the context makes clear that shining is meant. In verse 33, Barnes argues that “when” should be read instead of “till,” clarifying that Moses veiled during speaking rather than after.
Reception History
The passage has been read across Christian history as a symbol of the old covenant's glory and its limits. Paul's allegorical interpretation in 2 Corinthians 3 shaped the dominant reading: the veil represents the obscurity of the law compared to the unveiled glory of the gospel (Wesley, Clarke). Early church fathers like Origen saw Moses' veil as hiding deeper truths of Christ from Israel. The artistic tradition of Moses with horns (from the Vulgate) influenced centuries of Western art, including Michelangelo's famous statue. Reformers such as Calvin and Luther used the passage to contrast law and gospel. Modern readings focus on the mediator's pattern of approach and retreat and the role of divine glory in human leadership.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Glory That Terrifies: The radiance of God reflected on Moses' face caused even Aaron and the leaders to retreat. Holiness confronts human sinfulness, just as Joseph's brothers were terrified at his presence:
“Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Does my father still live?’ His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.”
— Genesis 45:3 (WEB) - The Mediator Who Calls: Moses called them back and spoke God's words. He did not remain distant but invited approach, delivering everything God had commanded.
- The Veil That Regulates: Moses veiled his face when not directly speaking with God or delivering his message. The veil both protected the people and signified the indirect nature of the old covenant.
Five-point outline
- Moses' face shines from divine encounter.
- Fear drives the people away.
- Moses calls them forward and delivers God's commands.
- Moses veils his face when not acting as mediator.
- The pattern of veil on and off points to the temporary glory of the law, replaced by the abiding glory of the gospel.
Illustration hooks
- A person coming inside from bright sunlight, their face still flushed; others cannot look directly until they adjust.
- A wedding veil: lifted for the groom, worn in public to create intimacy and appropriate separation.
- A translator who must switch between speaking for a visiting dignitary and carrying on private conversation.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God's glory frighten us even when we know He is good?
- How is Jesus a better mediator than Moses?
- What “veils” in our own lives keep us from seeing God’s glory clearly?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows the fear that holiness stirs in sinful people and the compassion of the mediator who calls them forward. Moses' pattern of veiling and unveiling teaches us about approaching God and representing Him to others.
Discussion questions
- What did Aaron and the leaders see, and how did they react?
- What did Moses do first after descending? Why do you think he called them instead of waiting?
- What does the veil reveal about Moses' authority and his relationship with God?
- Why do you think Moses removed the veil only when before God or when delivering His words?
- How does Paul use this event in 2 Corinthians 3 to explain the difference between the old and new covenants?
- What are some “veils” in our lives that prevent us from seeing God’s glory?
- How does Jesus fulfill the role of mediator more fully than Moses?
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)
| Genesis 45:3 | Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence. |
| Genesis 45:15 | He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him. |
| Exodus 3:15 | God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations. |
| Exodus 24:1 | He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance. |
| Exodus 24:3 | Moses came and told the people all Yahweh’s words, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which Yahweh has spoken will we do.” |
| Exodus 21:1 | “Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them: |
| Numbers 15:40 | so that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. |
| I Kings 22:14 | Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that I will speak.” |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights Paul's contrast: the veil on Moses' face symbolized the temporary glory of the law, which exposed sin but offered no pardon. That glory fades completely before the far greater glory of the Gospel, which provides the substance Christ's sacrifice and the Spirit's cleansing power for believers.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that Moses wore the veil only when he was silent, not when he spoke to the people. This timing matters, he notes, because Paul later uses the image to contrast the fading, hidden glory of the law with the unveiled, lasting glory of the gospel that believers see clearly.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the Hebrew word for veil appears only in this passage. It also observes that the verbs are frequentative, describing Moses' habitual practice of removing the veil when speaking with God and replacing it afterward.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the veil Moses wore as a symbol of the law’s obscurity, which hides Christ, the Trinity, and salvation. The veil’s removal when Moses spoke with God foreshadows how turning to the Lord lifts spiritual darkness and allows believers to see divine truth clearly.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Moses removed the veil only when speaking with
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.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the renewed covenant is not a simple restoration of the old one. The law is now grounded in God's proclamation of grace, yet its provisions become stricter, marking a transition from the violated legal covenant toward a new covenant.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights how Moses spent forty days and nights in uninterrupted, intimate communion with God, sustained without food or water. He contrasts this with our tendency to grow weary after only an hour or two of worship, urging us to remember Moses' example and the eternal day of praise we hope to share.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the veil as a symbol of the obscurity of the Old Testament ceremonies: they contained Christ but in a hidden way. The gospel removes that veil, yet it still blinds those who reject the light. When Moses took off the veil before God, it shows that every covering must be set aside when we come before the Lord.