All things bear record · Exodus

Exodus 33

7 witnesses of Christ here.

The Tabernacle Without the Camp

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. Exodus 33:7

After Israel's sin, those who sought the Lord had to go outside the camp to meet Him. Hebrews uses the same picture for coming to Jesus, who suffered outside the gate.

VerifiedEchoAn echo of Him

How we know: a traditional type, cited

  • alluded to by Hebrews 13:13 — Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Jehovah Speaks Face to Face

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. Exodus 33:9–11

Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ, came down in the pillar of cloud and spoke with Moses as a friend. It shows how personal and near the Lord is to those who seek Him.

VerifiedExplicitHe appears

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

  • alluded to by Deuteronomy 34:10 — There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.
  • alluded to by Numbers 12:8 — With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently.
  • alluded to by Moses 1:2 — Moses saw God face to face, and he talked with him (an earlier face-to-face vision in the same wording).

Jehovah's Presence and Rest

And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Exodus 33:12–17

Jehovah promises His own presence and His rest to Moses, whom He knows by name. Jesus later offers the same rest to all who come to Him, and latter-day revelation calls the Lord's rest the fulness of His glory.

VerifiedJehovah — the LORDHe speaks in the first person

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

  • alluded to by Matthew 11:28 — Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
  • alluded to by D&C 84:24 — Israel in the wilderness did not enter into his rest, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
  • alluded to by Isaiah 63:9 — The angel of his presence saved them ... and carried them all the days of old.

The Glory of Jehovah

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. Exodus 33:18

Moses asks to see the glory of the LORD, who is the premortal Christ. The Church links this request to the glory of Jesus Christ, the same glory the disciples later beheld in Him.

VerifiedJehovah — the LORDA pronoun that refers to Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · the chapter heading names Him

  • alluded to by John 1:14 — We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Name and Grace of Jehovah

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. Exodus 33:19

When Moses asks to see His glory, Jehovah reveals His name and His goodness, grace and mercy. The glory of the Lord is His mercy, fully shown in Jesus Christ.

VerifiedJehovah — the LORDHe speaks in the first person

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

  • quoted by Romans 9:15 — I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
  • the same event in Exodus 34:5-7 — The promised passing-by takes place: the LORD descends and proclaims His name, merciful and gracious.

The Glory of Jehovah

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. Exodus 33:20–23

Jehovah shields Moses and lets him see only part of His glory, because sinful, unchanged man cannot endure His full presence. Latter-day revelation teaches that it is through the priesthood and being quickened by the Spirit that one can see God and live.

VerifiedExplicitHe appears

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

  • alluded to by D&C 84:22 — Without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
  • alluded to by John 1:18 — No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son hath declared him.

The Rock

And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: Exodus 33:21–22

God places Moses in the rock and covers him with His hand so he can safely stand in the presence of divine glory. Christ is the Rock: hidden in Him and covered by Him, we can stand before God.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn object that is a type of Him

How we know: a traditional type, cited

  • a type of what is in 1 Corinthians 10:4 — They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
  • a type of what is in Helaman 5:12 — Upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, ye must build your foundation.