Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Exodus 33:20

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

KJV

Rursumque ait : Non poteris videre faciem meam : non enim videbit me homo et vivet.

Vulgate

καὶ εἶπεν Οὐ δυνήσῃ ἰδεῖν μου τὸ πρόσωπον· οὐ γὰρ μὴ ἴδῃ ἄνθρωπος τὸ πρόσωπόν μου καὶ ζήσεται.

LXX

And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live.

ASV

וַ/יֹּ֕אמֶר לֹ֥א תוּכַ֖ל לִ/רְאֹ֣ת אֶת פָּנָ֑/י כִּ֛י לֹֽא יִרְאַ֥/נִי הָ/אָדָ֖ם וָ/חָֽי

Hebrew

Open in reader with connections →

In the original Hebrew

9 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

אֶת
't
pronoun · 10895×
אָדָ֖ם
'dm
noun · 545×
חָֽי
chy
verb · 20×
יַּ֣רְא
yr'
verb · 1312×
יֹּ֣אמֶר
y'mr
verb · 5290×
יוּכַ֣ל
yvkl
verb · 193×
כִּֽי
ky
pronoun · 4439×
לֹ֣א
l'
proper_noun · 5171×
פְנֵ֣י
pny
noun · 2111×

Theophany

Historic Christian voices

6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§2583After Elijah had learned mercy during his retreat at the Wadi Cherith, he teaches the widow of Zarephath to believe in the Word of God and confirms her faith by his urgent prayer: God brings the widow's child back to life.33 The sacrifice on Mount Carmel is a decisive test for the faith of the People of God. In response to Elijah's plea, "Answer me, O LORD, answer me," the Lord…
Passages of Scripture by which they attempt to prove that the Supreme Father was unknown before the coming of Christ. 1. I judge it necessary to add to these details also what, by garbling passages of Scripture, they try to persuade us concerning their Propator, who was unknown to all before the coming of Christ. Their object in this is to show that our Lord announced another F…
That one God formed all things in the world, by means of the Word and the Holy Spirit: and that although He is to us in this life invisible and incomprehensible, nevertheless He is not unknown; inasmuch as His works do declare Him, and His Word has shown that in many modes He may be seen and known. 1. As regards His greatness, therefore, it is not possible to know God, for it i…
1. The Prophet said to the Jews, You had the countenance of a harlot, thou were shameless towards all men. Jeremiah 3:3, Septuagint Now it seems fitting to use this expression not only against that city, but against all who shamelessly set their faces against the truth. For when Philip said to Christ, Show us the Father, He replied, Have I been so long time with you, and have y…

Cross-references

  • 1John 4:12 — No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
  • 1Tim 6:16 — Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
  • 1Tim 6:16 — Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
  • Deut 4:33 — Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
  • Deut 5:24 — And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he li
  • Deut 5:24 — And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he li
  • Exod 20:19 — And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
  • Exod 24:10 — And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
  • Exod 24:10 — And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
  • Exod 33:18 — And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
  • Exod 33:23 — And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
  • Gen 32:30 — And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
  • Isa 6:5 — Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
  • Isa 6:5 — Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
  • Job 26:9 — He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
  • John 1:18 — No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
  • Judg 6:22 — And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.
  • Judg 6:22 — And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.
  • Judg 13:22 — And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
  • Judg 13:22 — And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
  • Rev 1:16 — And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.