Exodus 34:29

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, he was unaware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֗י בְּרֶ֤דֶת מֹשֶׁה֙ מֵהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י וּשְׁנֵ֨י לֻחֹ֤ת הָֽעֵדֻת֙ בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בְּרִדְתּ֖וֹ מִן־הָהָ֑ר וּמֹשֶׁ֣ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֗ע כִּ֥י קָרַ֛ן ע֥וֹר פָּנָ֖יו בְּדַבְּר֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

wa-yəhî in-redet mōšeh from-har sînay and-two luḥōt hā-ʿēdut in-hand-mōšeh in-ridtô from-hā-hār and-mōšeh lōʾ-yādaʿ kî qāran ʿôr pānāyw in-dabbərô with-him

Grammar Details

• *wa-yəhî*: conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and it came to pass
• *redet*: Qal infinitive construct - coming down of
• *mōšeh*: proper name - Moses
• *har*: masculine singular construct - mountain of
• *sînay*: proper name - Sinai
• *luḥōt*: feminine plural construct - tablets of
• *hā-ʿēdut*: definite article + feminine singular - the testimony
• *ridtô*: Qal infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his coming down
• *hā-hār*: definite article + masculine singular - the mountain
• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *yādaʿ*: Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - he knew
• *kî*: conjunction - that
• *qāran*: Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - it shone/had horns
• *ʿôr*: masculine singular construct - skin of
• *pānāyw*: masculine plural construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his face
• *dabbərô*: Piel infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his speaking

Word Meanings

• *yəhî*: it happened/it came to pass
• *redet*: coming down/descending
• *luḥōt*: tablets/plates
• *ʿēdut*: testimony/witness
• *yādaʿ*: knew/was aware/perceived
• *qāran*: shone/emitted rays/had horns
• *ʿôr*: skin/hide/leather
• *dabbərô*: his speaking/his talking

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And it came to pass, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when Moses{H4872} came down{H3381} from mount{H2022} Sinai{H5514} with the two{H8147} tables{H3871} of the testimony{H5715} in Moses'{H4872} hand,{H3027} when he came down{H3381} from the mount,{H2022} that Moses{H4872} knew{H3045} not that the skin{H5785} of his face{H6440} shone{H7160} by reason of his speaking{H1696} with him.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when Moses{H4872} came down{H3381}{(H8800)} from mount{H2022} Sinai{H5514} with the two{H8147} tables{H3871} of testimony{H5715} in Moses{H4872}' hand{H3027}, when he came down{H3381}{(H8800)} from the mount{H2022}, that Moses{H4872} wist{H3045}{(H8804)} not that the skin{H5785} of his face{H6440} shone{H7160}{(H8804)} while he talked{H1696}{(H8763)} with him.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And Moses came doune from mount Sinai and the.ij. tables of witnesse in his hande, and yet he wyst not that the skynne of his face shone with beames of his comenynge with him.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Now wha Moses came downe fro mout Sinai, he had the two tables of wytnesse in his hande, & wyst not yt the skynne of his face shyned, because he had talked with him.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  So when Moses came downe fro mount Sinai, the two Tables of the Testimonie were in Moses hande, as hee descended from the mount: (nowe Moses wist not that the skinne of his face shone bright, after that God had talked with him.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when Moyses came downe from mount Sinai, the two tables of testimonie were in Moyses hande: when he came downe from the mount, Moyses wyste not that the skynne of his face shone, whyle he talked with hym.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moses didn't know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And it cometh to pass, when Moses is coming down from mount Sinai (and the two tables of the testimony `are' in the hand of Moses in his coming down from the mount), that Moses hath not known that the skin of his face hath shone in His speaking with him,

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two stones in his hand, he was not conscious that his face was shining because of his talk with God.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moses didn't know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Radiant Face of Moses Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand– when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

Referenced Verses

• Matt 17:2 : 2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
• Exod 32:15 : 15 Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands—tablets that were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
• 2 Cor 3:13 : 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was fading away.
• Rev 1:16 : 16 He held seven stars in His right hand, a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face shone like the sun in its full brilliance.
• Rev 10:1 : 1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.
• Exod 16:15 : 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" because they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
• Josh 2:4 : 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I didn't know where they were from.
• Josh 8:14 : 14 When the king of Ai saw this, he and all his men of the city hurried and rose early, going out to meet Israel in battle at the appointed place near the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush was set against him behind the city.
• Judg 16:20 : 20 Then she called, 'Samson, the Philistines are upon you!' He awoke from his sleep and thought, 'I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the LORD had left him.
• Mark 9:6 : 6 For he did not know what to say, because they were terrified.
• Mark 14:40 : 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
• Luke 2:49 : 49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"
• Luke 9:29 : 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became bright as a flash of lightning.
• John 5:13 : 13 But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
• Acts 6:15 : 15 All who were sitting in the council looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
• Acts 12:9 : 9 Peter followed him out, but he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.
• Acts 23:5 : 5 Paul replied, 'I did not realize, brothers, that he is the high priest; for it is written: “You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”'
• 2 Cor 3:7-9 : 7 If the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not look intently at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was passing away, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness far exceeds it in glory.