And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

EXODUS 33:14KJV
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Exodus 33:14 (KJV)

What does Exodus 33:14 mean?

Exodus 33:14 records God telling Moses that His presence will go with Moses and that He will give Moses rest. This means God personally promises to accompany Moses and the Israelites on their journey and to provide them with peace and security.

In this scene, God is speaking directly to Moses after the Israelites have sinned by making the golden calf. Moses is pleading with God not to abandon the people. God’s assurance here is deeply personal—He is not sending just an angel or a messenger, but promises His own presence and the rest that comes with it.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 33:14

  • The word “presence” is פָּנִים (panim), which literally means “face.” In this verse, it is often understood as a way of saying God Himself, not just a representative, will be with Moses.
  • The word “rest” is נוּחַ (nuach), which carries the idea of settling down, being at ease, or finding relief from trouble. Here, it points to God giving Moses and the people a sense of peace and safety on their journey.

Why Exodus 33:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God’s promise is not just about reaching a destination, but about His ongoing, personal presence with His people.
  • The use of “face” for “presence” emphasizes a close, relational nearness, not just distant help.
  • In the wider story, this is a turning point after a major failure, showing God’s willingness to stay with His people even after they have gone astray.

Where else these words appear

“rest” Hebrew H5117 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
  • 2 Samuel 21:10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
  • Isaiah 7:19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.