11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11 (New King James Version)
20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Exodus 33:20 (New King James Version)
2006-07-27 06:47:15 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not definitive. I speak to my friend on the phone.
2006-07-27 06:53:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
If it's raining cats and dogs, does that mean puppies and kittens are falling from the sky? Obviously not, and a Hebrew expression is being used to explain how close the relationship between God and Moses actually was.
I don't want to frighten you, but I believe the Bible is historically true AND symbolically true... even though it wasn't written in English. I can't understand why so many Americans have a hard time understanding that a translation from one language to another is difficult.
If you are really interested, I would suggest you research the Strong's number for face (06440) in this scripture so you could see the literal Hebrew word. If you did so, you would find that the tranliterated word "Paniym" actually means "to stand in the presence of".
2006-07-27 07:06:00 · answer #2 · answered by Rudy G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exo 33:18-23 -
Moses was emboldened by this, and now prayed to the Lord, “Let me see Thy glory.” What Moses desired to see, as the answer of God clearly shows, must have been something surpassing all former revelations of the glory of Jehovah (Exo_16:7, Exo_16:10; Exo_24:16-17), and even going beyond Jehovah's talking with him face to face (Exo_33:11). When God talked with him face to face, or mouth to mouth, he merely saw a “similitude of Jehovah” (Num_12:8), a form which rendered the invisible being of God visible to the human eye, i.e., a manifestation of the divine glory in a certain form, and not the direct or essential glory of Jehovah, whilst the people saw this glory under the veil of a dark cloud, rendered luminous by fire, that is to say, they only saw its splendour as it shone through the cloud; and even the elders, at the time when the covenant was made, only saw the God of Israel in a certain form which hid from their eyes the essential being of God (Exo_24:10-11). What Moses desired, therefore, was a sight of the glory or essential being of God, without any figure, and without a veil.
Exo_33:20
Such passages as this, being clearly in accordance with what we know of the relation of spiritual existence to the human senses, show how we are to interpret the expressions “face to face” Exo_33:11; Deu_34:10, “mouth to mouth” Num_12:8, and others of the like kind. See Exo_24:10; Isa_6:1; and compare Joh_14:9.
2006-07-27 07:06:21 · answer #3 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of variations of the authorized version (regularly referred to as the King James Bible) the unique 1611 could be very confusing to for many folk to make sure. those revisions even with the undeniable fact that have not severely replaced the authorized version they have merely made it extra accessible. As for the confusing titles. interior the U.S. there is no copyright on the authorized version and you will locate it referred to as many stuff which includes "The authorized version", The King James version" The authorized King James version" they're all touching on the comparable ingredient.
2016-11-03 03:08:33 · answer #4 · answered by holliway 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Response to BC's answer:
God meant?? Guess that's the problem with nearly all "interpretations" of the bible. Who are you/we to say what god meant...
His "glorified form"??? Nothings easier then coming up with an irrational no basis of fact response to religious questions.
Bottom line: The bible is a teaching instrument for a logical way for humans to interact. Not a bad one either. But there are many more. Much more of the bible is in parable form then what the politics of religion will admit.
2006-07-27 07:06:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep reading - you will see the Bible is full of contradictions. You may want to visit the Freedom From Religion Foundation page.
2006-07-27 06:55:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mouth to mouth... Face to face....That is, distinctly, by an articulate voice; immediately, not by an interpreter, nor by shadows and representations in his fancy, as it is in visions and dreams; and familiarly.
Exodus 33:11 is talking about leprosy.
Miriam (Moses wife) became leprous.
2006-07-27 12:02:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In verse 20, "face" is a metaphor for God's glory.
Verse 23 tells us that Moses may see God's back (a metaphor for His glory as reflected in His creation), but cannot see His face, which is God as He is to Himself.
2006-07-27 06:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God meant that Moses (or any man) could not see his face in its glorified form. Remember, God appears to people in many forms, but his glorified form is too great for us mortals to bear.
2006-07-27 06:58:33 · answer #9 · answered by BC 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Something's wrong w/ Bible! That's the understatement of the millenium!
2006-07-27 06:50:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wish I could make up some kind of justification to protect christianity but you got me. Point made. You can't argue this.
2006-07-27 07:00:33 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋