And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

EXODUS 34:29KJV
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Exodus 34:29 (KJV)

What does Exodus 34:29 mean?

Exodus 34:29 describes how, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets of the covenant, he was unaware that the skin of his face was shining because he had been speaking with God. The verse highlights that Moses did not realize this visible change in his appearance.

Moses is returning to the Israelites after being on Mount Sinai, where he received the law from God. The verse points out that his encounter with God left a physical mark—his face was shining—though Moses himself did not know it. This sets the stage for the reaction of the people who would soon see him and be amazed or even afraid because of this change.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 34:29

  • שָׁנָה (qaran, "shone"): The word used here for "shone" is unusual and often understood as "to emit rays" or "to radiate." This suggests that Moses' face was visibly radiant, not just bright but almost glowing with light, which is a rare description in the Hebrew Bible.
  • עוֹר (or, "skin"): The word for "skin" emphasizes that it was Moses’ physical appearance, not just a spiritual aura, that was changed. The transformation was outward and noticeable to others.
  • יָדַע (yada, "wist not"): This word means "to know" or "to be aware." The verse stresses that Moses was completely unaware of his changed appearance, highlighting the unexpected and unintentional nature of this sign.

Why Exodus 34:29 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Moses’ shining face was not something he did on purpose or even noticed himself; it was a result of his direct encounter with God.
  • The detail about the "skin of his face" shining sets up the following verses, where the Israelites react with fear and awe, showing the impact of God’s presence on a human being.
  • The verse connects to the wider theme of Exodus 34, where Moses’ unique relationship with God is emphasized, and it visually marks Moses as a special mediator between God and the people.

Where else these words appear

“shone” Hebrew H7160 · used in 4 verses

  • Exodus 34:30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
  • Exodus 34:35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
  • Psalms 69:31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

“tables” Hebrew H3871 · used in 33 verses

  • Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
  • Deuteronomy 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
  • Deuteronomy 10:5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

“Sinai” Hebrew H5514 · used in 34 verses

  • Exodus 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
  • Exodus 34:32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
  • Numbers 9:5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

“testimony” Hebrew H5715 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
  • Exodus 40:21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.