Exodus 34:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If the shared essence of life allowed Lazarus, a stranger to Abraham, to be integrated into his very being and granted many from distant lands the honor of reclining with him, then you too may find your place of rest alongside the beautiful Phiracy if you aspire to live as he did. You will behold him once more, not in the physical beauty in which he departed this life, but in a far greater magnificence and radiance, surpassing even the brilliance of the sun. The mortal body, no matter how high it may rise, is destined to decay; yet, those pleasing to God will be enveloped in a glory so profound that human eyes cannot comprehend it. Signs of this have been revealed to us in both the Old and New Testament.

His countenance began to shine with brilliance because God had communicated with him. Every soul possesses a beauty that is revealed through the harmony of its qualities, yet the most profound and sought-after beauty, visible only to those with pure hearts, is inherent to God’s blessed essence. Those who earnestly behold the radiance and elegance of this divine beauty are transformed, receiving a certain luminous glow upon their own faces. This is illustrated by Moses, whose face was glorified after conversing with God and partaking in this divine beauty. Furthermore, anyone who recognizes their own virtue offers a heartfelt cry of gratitude: "Lord, according to Thy will give strength to my beauty!" (Psalms 29:8 LXX).

Following this, Moses descends from the mountain, and his appearance had been transformed, though he was unaware of this change. It was essential for the people to recognize and witness his glorification. Moses ascended the mountain as an eighty-year-old man, yet descended as if rejuvenated; he went up as a descendant of Adam, but returned embodying the essence of the original Adam, not as the one who fell to temptation, but rather as the Adam that existed prior to that fall.

His countenance shone with radiant beams as a result of God's communication with him. In Moses, the divine image was made manifest: his weathered skin radiated with a vibrant glow, symbolizing how old age is rejuvenated in the paradise of Eden.

The radiance that Moses displayed on his face serves as a representation of the authentic glory of the Holy Spirit. Just as Moses's face was unapproachable, the darkness of sinful desires cannot endure the brilliance that illuminates the soul of the believer, but instead retreats, repelled by its light.

Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the two tablets in his possession, unaware that the radiance of his face had been transformed after speaking with God. As he reflected rays of glory upon the Israelites, he also inadvertently illuminated the space around him with a remarkable light. Some suggest that Moses experienced something akin to what those do when transitioning from bright illumination to dimness, perceiving himself enveloped in darkness. Thus, when Moses encountered the brilliance of God's glory, he scarcely noticed the glow on his countenance, which others beheld in awe as though it were a magnificent flame. It is more accurate to assert that throughout his life, Moses remained oblivious to the divine illumination of his face, which was a novel experience for him.

Moses experienced extreme frailty and emaciation during his forty days of fasting, transforming into a reflection of divine glory. As a result, he radiated the light of the Divine in the deep darkness of our hearts, a brilliance too intense for human vision to withstand (cf. 2 Cor. 3:13). He who has been nourished solely by what God supplies, disregarding earthly sustenance, learns that those who dwell in the presence of God are never without the resources necessary for life.

In particular versions, like the Vulgate, verse 29 employs a play on the words karan, meaning to shine, and keren, meaning horn: ‘Et ignorabat quod cornuta esset facies sua ex consortio Sermonis Domini’. This interpretation led 15th and 16th-century Italian artists to portray Moses with horns, exemplified by Michelangelo's renowned statue in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. In ancient symbolism, horns represented strength and power. However, contemporary renderings align closely with our translation. The encounter with the Divine transformed and illuminated Moses’ flesh, although he remained unaware of this transformation.