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Exodus 34:5

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 34:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Jehovah descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Jehovah descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah.
Exodus 34:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 34

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me on the top of the mount.
3And no man shall come up with thee; neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.
4And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as Jehovah had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of stone.
5And Jehovah descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah.
6And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth,
7keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children`s children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.
8And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
← Exodus 34:4Exodus 34:6 →
← Full Chapter 34 Exodus Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the Lord descended in the cloud, etc.] The same with the cloudy pillar, which was now gone up from the door of the tabernacle, and was on high in the air over the mount, and on which the Lord now descended in it, as he had before, (<021909>Exodus 19:9,16,18): and stood with him there; not Moses stood with the Lord, as the Vulgate Latin version; but the Lord, or the cloud in which the Lord was, stood near to Moses: and proclaimed the name of the Lord: Jehovah declared with a loud voice out of the cloud, that the Lord was there; the Targum of Jonathan is, “and Moses called on or in the name of the Word of the Lord;” and so the Vulgate Latin version refers it to Moses, and renders the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the Lord descended in the cloud--After graciously hovering over the tabernacle, it seems to have resumed its usual position on the summit of the mount. It was the shadow of God manifest to the outward senses; and, at the same time, of God manifest in the flesh. The emblem of a cloud seems to have been chosen to signify that, although He was pleased to make known much about himself, there was more veiled from mortal view. It was to check presumption and engender awe and give a humble sense of human attainments in divine knowledge, as now man sees, but darkly.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord descended - By some sensible token of his presence, and manifestation of his glory. He descended in the cloud - Probably that pillar of cloud which had hitherto gone before Israel, and had the day before met Moses at the door of the tabernacle. Exodus 34:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“34:5-9 Moses experienced God’s presence in a revelation of the name, or character, of God. As God had promised (33:19), he showed Moses the glory of his goodness. 34:5-6 Yahweh: Here God is emphasizing his personal name.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“descended: Exo 19:18, Exo 33:9; Num 11:17, Num 11:25; Kg1 8:10-12; Luk 9:34, Luk 9:35 the name: Exo 33:19; Num 14:17; Deu 32:3; Psa 102:21; Pro 18:10; Isa 1:10 Exodus 34:6”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification