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    Exodus 34 (KJV)

    Read Exodus chapter 34 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Exodus 34

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    Exodus 34:6

    "And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD,…"

    Exodus 34:5

    "And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him ther…"

    Exodus 34:7

    "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgre…"

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    Exodus 34 Summary

    Exodus 34 records the renewal of the covenant after Israel's golden calf disaster. God commands Moses to cut two new stone tablets and ascend Sinai again. There, God passes before Moses and proclaims His own name — one of Scripture's most profound self-revelations: 'The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.'

    God renews the covenant with warnings against idolatry and commands regarding worship, feasts, and the Sabbath. When Moses descends, his face literally shines from being in God's presence — so brightly that the people are afraid to approach him. He begins wearing a veil except when speaking with God. The chapter demonstrates that broken covenants can be restored and that intimacy with God transforms a person visibly.

    Key Themes

    God's Self-RevelationCovenant RenewalMercy and JusticeTransformed by God's Presence

    Key Verses in Exodus 34

    "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."

    — Exodus 34:6-7

    God's definitive self-description — the most quoted Old Testament passage within the Old Testament itself.

    "Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him."

    — Exodus 34:29

    Time in God's presence produces visible transformation — Moses didn't notice, but everyone else did.

    Life Application

    Exodus 34:6-7 is how God describes Himself when He gets to choose the words. Memorize it. When you're unsure of God's character, return to His self-portrait: merciful, gracious, patient, abundant in goodness and truth. And know that spending time with God changes you — often without you realizing it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is Exodus 34:6-7 so important?

    It is God's own self-description — His 'mission statement.' These attributes are quoted or echoed more than any other passage within the Old Testament (Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 86:15, 103:8, 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2, Nahum 1:3). It is the theological center of the Old Testament.

    Why did Moses' face shine?

    Moses' radiant face was the visible effect of prolonged, intimate exposure to God's glory. It demonstrated that genuine encounter with God produces transformation. Paul references this in 2 Corinthians 3:18, teaching that all believers are being transformed by beholding God's glory.

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