Exodus 33:17-23

Exodus 33:17-23

[17] And the LORD  said  unto Moses,  I will do  this thing  also that thou hast spoken:  for thou hast found  grace  in my sight,  and I know  thee by name.  [18] And he said,  I beseech thee,  shew  me thy glory.  [19] And he said,  I will make all my goodness  pass  before thee, and I will proclaim  the name  of the LORD  before  thee; and will be gracious  and will shew mercy  [20] And he said,  Thou canst  not see  my face:  for there shall no man  see  me, and live.  [21] And the LORD  said,  Behold, there is a place  by me, and thou shalt stand  upon a rock:  [22] And it shall come to pass, while my glory  passeth by,  that I will put  thee in a clift  of the rock,  and will cover  thee with my hand  while  I pass by:  [23] And I will take  away mine hand,  and thou shalt see  my back parts:  but my face  shall not be seen. 

What does Exodus 33:17-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

God promised this too ( Exodus 33:17).
Third, Moses requested a greater perception of God"s essential being than he had experienced thus far. This would also enable him to serve God more effectively in view of the altered relationship ( Exodus 33:18). God explained that no one can view Him directly and live.
"As our bodily eye is dazzled, and its power of vision destroyed, by looking directly at the brightness of the sun, so would our whole nature be destroyed by an unveiled sight of the brilliancy of the glory of God." [1]
God did grant Moses a greater revelation of Himself, even though it was a limited revelation. This revelation helped Moses fulfill his duty as a mediator by giving him a greater appreciation for the person of Yahweh (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:4). This is what all the leaders of God"s people need (cf. Philippians 3:8-10).
". . . though Yahweh does indeed come to Moses in theophany, what he gives to Moses is quite specifically not the sight of this beauty, his glory, his Presence-that, indeed, he pointedly denies. What he gives rather is a description, and at that, a description not of how he looks but of how he is." [2]