And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
EXODUS 34:1KJVWhat does Exodus 34:1 mean?
Exodus 34:1 describes God telling Moses to carve out two new stone tablets, like the first ones Moses broke, so that God can write the same words on them again. This verse shows God’s willingness to restore what was lost after Moses shattered the original tablets.
In this scene, the LORD (God) is speaking directly to Moses on Mount Sinai after the Israelites sinned by worshiping the golden calf. God instructs Moses to prepare new stone tablets, promising to rewrite the commandments that were on the first set. The verse highlights both the seriousness of breaking the first tablets and God’s intention to renew His covenant with the people.
The Hebrew behind Exodus 34:1
- "Hew" (פָּסַל, pasal): This word means to carve or cut out, emphasizing that Moses himself must physically prepare the new tablets, showing his active role in restoring the covenant.
- "Tables" (לוּחַ, luach): This refers to flat stone slabs, not just any stones, but specially shaped for writing, underlining the importance and formality of the commandments.
- "Brakest" (שָׁבַר, shavar): This means to break or shatter, directly pointing to Moses’ earlier act of breaking the first tablets in response to Israel’s unfaithfulness.
Why Exodus 34:1 matters
- Exodus 34:1 clarifies that the commandments given by God are not changed or replaced, but restored exactly as before, stressing the unchanging nature of God’s instructions.
- The verse highlights the seriousness of Israel’s earlier failure and the possibility of renewal, connecting to the wider theme of forgiveness and restoration in the book of Exodus.
- By instructing Moses to carve the tablets himself, the verse emphasizes human responsibility in responding to God’s commands and participating in the process of reconciliation.