The Meaning of Exodus 33:20 Explained

Exodus 33:20

KJV: And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

YLT: He saith also, 'Thou art unable to see My face, for man doth not see Me, and live;'

Darby: And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for Man shall not see me, and live.

ASV: And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  Thou canst  not see  my face:  for there shall no man  see  me, and live. 

What does Exodus 33:20 Mean?

Study Notes

my face
Cf.
hath seen God
CF Genesis 32:20 ; Exodus 24:10 ; Exodus 33:18 ; Judges 6:22 ; Judges 13:22 ; Revelation 22:4 . The divine essence, God, veiled in angelic form, and especially as incarnate in Jesus Christ, has been seen of men.; Genesis 18:2 ; Genesis 18:22 ; John 14:8 ; John 14:9 .
declared Lit. led him forth, i.e. into full revelation. John 14:9 .

Context Summary

Exodus 33:12-23 - God's Presence Promised And His Glory Shown
When Moses found himself alone with God he made two outstanding requests:
(1) For God's presence. "If thou dost not go with me, I cannot go; angels are not enough. They are fair, and sweet, and strong, but I want thee. Wilt thou leave me-a lonely man-to thread these desert wastes with this people? Thou hast put the burden on me, and thou canst not leave me to carry it alone!" It is good when a man gets to close grips with God, and it was to him according to his faith. See Exodus 33:14.
(2) For a vision of God's glory. Again the answer came as he asked-"I will put thee in a cleft of the rock." The sides of the mountains are rent and scarred; but who can tell the anguish of Him who was "marred" for us? Yet, in the cleft wound of His side there is room for us to hide. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me!" On Calvary, a niche was hollowed out in which a world of sinners may find shelter. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 33

1  The Lord refuses to go as he had promised with the people
4  The people mourn there
7  The tabernacle is removed out of the camp
9  The Lord talks familiarly with Moses
12  Moses prevails with God, and desires to see his glory

What do the individual words in Exodus 33:20 mean?

But He said cannot You see - My face for no shall see Me man and live
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹ֥א תוּכַ֖ל לִרְאֹ֣ת אֶת־ פָּנָ֑י כִּ֛י לֹֽא־ יִרְאַ֥נִי הָאָדָ֖ם וָחָֽי

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר  But  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לֹ֥א  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לִרְאֹ֣ת  see 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פָּנָ֑י  My  face 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לֹֽא־  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִרְאַ֥נִי  shall  see  Me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הָאָדָ֖ם  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
וָחָֽי  and  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.