Exodus 33:23

Good News Translation

Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back but not my face."

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

King James Version
And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Lexham English Bible
And I will remove my hand, and you will see my back, but my face will not be visible."

New Century Version
Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back. But my face must not be seen."

New English Translation
Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen."

Amplified Bible
"Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."

New American Standard Bible
"Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."

Geneva Bible (1587)
After I will take away mine hande, & thou shalt see my backe parts: but my face shal not be seene.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I will remove My hand, and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."

Contemporary English Version
Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back. You will not see my face.

Complete Jewish Bible
Then I will remove my hand, and you will see my back, but my face is not to be seen."

Darby Translation
And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see me from behind; but my face shall not be seen.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back. But you will not see my face."

English Standard Version
Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."

George Lamsa Translation
And I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

Christian Standard Bible®
Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

Literal Translation
And I will remove My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face cannot be seen.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan I take awaye myne hande from the, thou shalt se my back partes, but my face shal not be sene.

American Standard Version
and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

Bible in Basic English
Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back: but my face is not to be seen.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I wyll take away myne hande, and thou shalt see my backe partes: but my face shall not be seene.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And I will take away My hand, and thou shalt see My back; but My face shall not be seen.'

King James Version (1611)
And I wil take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my backe parts: but my face shall not be seene.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I will remove my hand, and then shalt thou see my back parts; but my face shall not appear to thee.

English Revised Version
and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back: but my face shall not be seen.

Berean Standard Bible
Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and thou schalt se myn hyndrere partis, forsothe thou mayst not se my face.

Young's Literal Translation
and I have turned aside My hands, and thou hast seen My back parts, and My face is not seen.'

Update Bible Version
and I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

World English Bible
then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

New King James Version
Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."

New Living Translation
Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen."

New Life Bible
Then I will take My hand away and you will see My back. But My face will not be seen."

New Revised Standard
then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then will I take away my hand, and thou shalt see behind me, But, my face, must not be seen.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face thou canst not see.

Revised Standard Version
then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."

Contextual Overview

¹² Moses said to the Lord , "It is true that you have told me to lead these people to that land, but you did not tell me whom you would send with me. You have said that you know me well and are pleased with me. ¹³ Now if you are, tell me your plans, so that I may serve you and continue to please you. Remember also that you have chosen this nation to be your own." ¹⁴ The Lord said, "I will go with you, and I will give you victory." ¹⁵ Moses replied, "If you do not go with us, don't make us leave this place. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with your people and with me if you do not go with us? Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth." ¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, "I will do just as you have asked, because I know you very well and I am pleased with you." ¹⁸ Then Moses requested, "Please, let me see the dazzling light of your presence." ¹⁹ The Lord answered, "I will make all my splendor pass before you and in your presence I will pronounce my sacred name. I am the Lord , and I show compassion and pity on those I choose. ²⁰ I will not let you see my face, because no one can see me and stay alive, ²¹ but here is a place beside me where you can stand on a rock.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thou shalt: Exodus 33:20, Job 11:7, Job 26:14, John 1:18, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Timothy 6:16

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:10 - saw Numbers 12:8 - similitude 1 Kings 19:13 - he wrapped his face Song of Solomon 2:14 - clefts

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I will take away mine hand,.... As being covered with the hand may signify the obscurity of the former dispensation, the taking of it away may denote a more clear revelation of the grace and goodness of God in Christ, and so of the glory of it under the Gospel dispensation; and yet what is seen in this, in comparison of the reality of things as they are, or of the heavenly state, are but as next expressed:

and thou shalt see my back parts; which some understand of the humanity of Christ, and his sufferings in it, sometimes expressed by his heel, and the bruising of it, Genesis 3:15 or else the works of God in creation, by which the invisible things of God are seen, and which give a knowledge of him "a posteriori"; and so Maimonides d interprets the phrase, which follow me, flow from my will, i.e. all my creatures: or rather it denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state, even as revealed in Christ, in whom there are the clearest and brightest displays of his glory; yet this, in comparison of the beatific sight of him, is but like seeing a man that is gone by, whose back is only to be seen:

but my face shall not be seen; in the present state, the face of God, that is, his favour, communion with him, and the light of his countenance, are to be sought for, and may be enjoyed; the glory of himself is to be seen in the face or person of Christ, and the glory of that face or person is to be seen in the glass of the Gospel, but at present imperfectly; God in Christ as he is, the fullest and brightest displays of his glory, grace, and goodness, are reserved to another state, see 1 Corinthians 13:9 or it may regard the divine nature of Christ, which could not be seen by Moses, but his back parts, or human; Christ as clothed with flesh might, and would be seen by him, as he was seen by him on the mount, Matthew 17:3.

d Moreh Nevochim, par. 1. c. 38.