Back to Exodus 33

Exodus 33:4-10

When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry.

Yahweh had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’ ”

The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. When Moses went out to the Tent, all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent. When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and Yahweh spoke with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Exodus 33:4-10 sits inside this longer paragraph.

When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry.

Yahweh had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’ ”

The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. When Moses went out to the Tent, all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent. When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and Yahweh spoke with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door. Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry.

    Yahweh had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’ ”

    The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

    Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp.

    When Moses went out to the Tent, all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent.

    When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and Yahweh spoke with Moses.

    All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door.

  • KJV King James Version

    And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.

    For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

    And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

    And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

    And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

    And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

    And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned; and no man did put on him his ornaments.

    And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto the children of Israel: Ye are a stiffnecked people; if I go up into the midst of thee for one moment, I shall consume thee; therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.'

    And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from mount Horeb onward.

    Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it without the camp, afar off from the camp; and he called it The tent of meeting. And it came to pass, that every one that sought the LORD went out unto the tent of meeting, which was without the camp.

    And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the Tent.

    And it came to pass, when Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the Tent; and the LORD spoke with Moses.

    And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, all the people rose up and worshipped, every man at his tent door.

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Cross-references (60)

  • Isaiah 55:6-7 (v7) Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let…
  • Numbers 14:39 (v4) Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly.
  • Numbers 16:21 (v5) “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!”
  • Numbers 16:27 (v8) So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their…
  • Psalms 99:7 (v9) He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them.
Show all 60 cross-references
  • Proverbs 15:29 (v7) Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
  • Exodus 4:31 (v10) The people believed, and when they heard that Yahweh had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they…
  • Exodus 29:42-43 (v7) It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh, where I will meet with…
  • Exodus 33:3-4 (v5) Go to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the…
  • Numbers 16:45-46 (v5) “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces. Moses said to Aaron, “Take your…
  • Deuteronomy 8:2 (v5) You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to test…
  • Psalms 139:23 (v5) Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
  • Isaiah 59:2 (v7) But your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
  • Genesis 18:33 (v9) Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
  • Genesis 22:12 (v5) He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son,…
  • Exodus 31:18 (v9) When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
  • Exodus 33:4 (v6) When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry.
  • Leviticus 10:6 (v4) Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Don’t let the hair of your heads go loose, and don’t tear your clothes, so…
  • Numbers 14:1 (v4) All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
  • Deuteronomy 4:29 (v7) But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you shall find him when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
  • 2 Samuel 21:1 (v7) There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for…
  • 1 Kings 8:14 (v10) The king turned his face around, and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel stood.
  • 1 Kings 8:22 (v10) Solomon stood before Yahweh’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;
  • Job 34:20 (v5) In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
  • Psalms 73:19 (v5) How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
  • Isaiah 22:12 (v5) In that day, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, called to weeping, to mourning, to baldness, and to dressing in sackcloth;
  • Ezekiel 3:22 (v9) Yahweh’s hand was there on me; and he said to me, “Arise, go out into the plain, and I will talk with you there.”
  • Ezekiel 24:17 (v4) Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Don’t cover your lips,…
  • Ezekiel 24:23 (v4) Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and…
  • Ezekiel 26:16 (v4) Then all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments.…
  • Luke 18:13 (v10) But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a…
  • Genesis 17:22 (v9) When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
  • Genesis 18:21 (v5) I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
  • Exodus 13:21-22 (v9) Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that…
  • Exodus 25:22 (v9) There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the…
  • Exodus 32:3 (v6) All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.
  • Exodus 33:11 (v9) Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a…
  • Exodus 34:3 (v9) No one shall come up with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain. Do not let the flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.”
  • Exodus 34:9 (v9) He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go among us, even though this is a stiff-necked people; pardon…
  • Numbers 11:17 (v9) I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the…
  • 2 Samuel 19:24 (v4) Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his…
  • 1 Kings 21:27 (v4) When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
  • 2 Kings 19:1 (v4) When king Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into Yahweh’s house.
  • Ezra 9:3 (v4) When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
  • Esther 4:1-4 (v4) Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of…
  • Job 1:20 (v4) Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.
  • Job 2:12 (v4) When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn’t recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe,…
  • Psalms 27:8 (v7) When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”
  • Isaiah 32:11 (v4) Tremble, you women who are at ease! Be troubled, you careless ones! Strip yourselves, make yourselves naked, and put sackcloth on your…
  • Jeremiah 2:19 (v6) “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing,…
  • Lamentations 4:6 (v5) For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment. No hands were laid on…
  • Hosea 7:14 (v4) They haven’t cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away…
  • Jonah 3:6 (v4) The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in…
  • Zechariah 7:3 (v4) and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies, and to the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating…
  • Zechariah 7:5 (v4) “Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for…
  • Matthew 7:7-8 (v7) “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks…
  • Psalms 10:1 (v7) Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
  • Psalms 35:22 (v7) You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
  • Hosea 9:12 (v7) Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from…
  • Hebrews 13:11-13 (v7) For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside…

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (19 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv5, 7 That either I may show mercy, if thou repent,…

That either I may show mercy, if thou repent, or else punish thy rebellion.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv4–10 Exo 33:4 And when the people heard these evil…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv4, 5, 7, 8, 9 Their precious garments or jewels, which the women reserved,…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v7 Here is, I. One mark of displeasure put upon…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv4–10 And when the people heard these evil tidings,.... That…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 7, 8, 10 I will come up - As if he had…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv5, 7, 9 Verse 5. Now put off thy ornaments from thee]…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv4, 5, 7, 8, 9 Exo 33:4. No man did put on his ornaments…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 7, 10 I will come up ... - Better; If I…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv4–10 Ornaments. Chaldean and Syriac, "arms." They had brought jewels,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv4, 5, 7, 8, 9 when the people heard these evil tidings--from Moses on…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv4, 5, 7, 8 4. The people heard… mourned — The withdrawal of…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv4–9 4. these evil tidings] that Jehovah would not accompany…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv4–8 (4) When the people heard these evil tidings, they…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv4–10 When the people heard. Moses had communicated to the…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv4, 9 Put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v7 CF. Exo 24:4. This "tabernacle" is not to be…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv4, 7, 10 beautiful clothing as well as chains and rings with…
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv4, 7, 8 33:4-6 The jewelry and fine clothes might have been…
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