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.

EXODUS 34:35KJV
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Exodus 34:35 (KJV)

What does Exodus 34:35 mean?

Exodus 34:35 describes how the people of Israel saw that Moses’ face was shining, and whenever they saw this, Moses would put a veil over his face until he went in again to speak with God. This verse shows the visible effect of Moses’ encounters with God and his care in covering his face before the people.

In this scene, Moses has come down from Mount Sinai after speaking with God, and his face is visibly radiant. The people, called "the children of Israel," witness this unusual brightness. Moses uses a veil to cover his face except when he goes in to speak with God again, highlighting both the awe of God’s presence and Moses’ unique role as mediator.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 34:35

  • "Shone" (קָרַן, qāran): This Hebrew word means "to shine" or "to emit rays." It emphasizes that Moses’ face was not just bright but radiated in a way that was noticeable and even startling to the people.
  • "Vail" (מַסְוֶה, masveh): This word refers to a covering or veil. The use of a specific term for veil underlines that Moses took deliberate action to shield the people from the brightness of his face.
  • "Face" (פָּנִים, panim): Repeated several times, this word draws attention to the personal and direct nature of Moses’ encounters with God and the effect it had on his appearance.

Why Exodus 34:35 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Moses did not always wear the veil—he removed it when speaking directly with God, showing a special relationship and access.
  • The detail about Moses’ shining face and the veil connects to earlier verses in the chapter, emphasizing the impact of being in God’s presence.
  • Understanding the use of the veil helps explain later biblical references to Moses and the veil, such as in 2 Corinthians 3, where Paul discusses the meaning of this event.

Where else these words appear

“vail” Hebrew H4533 · used in 3 verses

  • Exodus 34:33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
  • Exodus 34:34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.

“shone” Hebrew H7160 · used in 4 verses

  • Exodus 34:29 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 34:30 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.
  • Psalms 69:31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

“skin” Hebrew H5785 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
  • Leviticus 13:18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,
  • Leviticus 15:17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.