Epiphany Season · Transfiguration Sunday · Year C
Exodus 34:29-35
The Radiant Face of Moses
February 23, 2028
Overview & Insights
“The skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” (Exodus 34:29)
The Israelites received the final part of their forgiveness in the unexpected gift of Moses’ radiant face. It brought the glory of God back into Israel’s midst in a human countenance. It was a visible sign of the Lord’s forgiveness, presence, and restored communication with Israel through Moses. The accompanying sign of restoration God gave upon Moses’ return from Mount Sinai was the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands (see comment on 31:18). In contrast to his previous descent after forty days, this time Moses did not encounter idolatry, burn with anger, or break the tablets (32:15, 19). Instead, the people were in awe, his face was radiant, and he gave them the commands (vv. 30–32). At first the people were afraid to come near him .
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Commentary
Commentary on Exodus 34:29-35 Working Preacher
The Lutheran home commentary pairing Moses' unknowing radiance with Christ's transfiguration.
Exodus 34 - The Radiant Face of Moses Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of Moses' shining face and the veil he wore.
Exodus Commentaries and Sermons Precept Austin
A gateway to inductive word studies and cross references across Exodus.
Exodus 34:29 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the radiance of Moses' face.
Exodus 34:29 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.
Background & Word Study
Exodus 34 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria
The Hebrew of the passage alongside English with linked Jewish commentary.
Exodus 34:29 Interlinear BibleHub
The Hebrew of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.
Book of Exodus Overview (Ch. 19-40) BibleProject
An animated overview of Exodus' second half, including Sinai and the shining face of Moses.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why does Moses' face shine?
Coming down from Sinai with the tablets, Moses' face is radiant from being in God's presence, so that he veils it before the people, a glory the New Testament sees surpassed in Christ.
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