THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Moses communicated with the people while his face was covered, which Paul references in his second epistle to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 3:13).
Exodus 34:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And they saw that the face of Moses when he came out was horned, but he covered his face again, if at any time he spoke to them.
וְרָא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה כִּ֣י קָרַ֔ן ע֖וֹר פְּנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֑ה וְהֵשִׁ֨יב מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶה֙ עַל־פָּנָ֔יו עַד־בֹּא֖וֹ לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theophylact of Bulgaria
All followers of Christ receive the Holy Spirit through baptism, illuminating their spirits. When Moses beheld the glory of God, he was transformed by it; his countenance was made radiant, reflecting divine light, and he came to resemble us.
Theodoret of Cyrus
What does the veil on the lawgiver's face signify? The Apostle clarifies this for us. He states, ‘Even unto this day, when Moses is read, the covering of their heart lies unveiled, for they cease from Christ. But when they turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away’ (2 Cor. 3:14-16). Just as the lawgiver's face was radiated with divine glory, which was so brilliant that those who encountered him could not bear to look directly at it, it caused them to either turn away or avert their eyes. Therefore, Moses consistently wore a veil over his face while addressing the people, yet when he spoke with God, he uncovered his face. The Jews, when they focus solely on the letter of the law, are blinded by a veil and cannot see the glory.
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In contrast, those who approach the grace of the Holy Spirit experience liberation from this veil and witness the splendor that filled Moses. The Apostle Paul further expresses, ‘But we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Just as a clear mirror reflects the appearance of those before it, so too do pure hearts embrace the glory of God. This is why the Lord declared, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Matt. 5:8). Conversely, Judas allowed the devil to influence him, mirroring his wickedness; those who come into Divine grace, however, are illuminated by its brilliance. Just as a person in darkness remains unseen, while one who is in the sun shines with its light, so too does a person who aligns with God reflect His likeness.
Wlastow G.K.
Fear grips the Israelites when they see the radiant face of Moses. He summons them to share the words of the Lord and removes his veil as he approaches the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul highlights this situation, indicating that the veil still covers the hearts of the Israelites, and it is only when they return to the Lord that this veil is lifted.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Ex 34:29And when Moses came down from the Mount Sinai, he held the two tables of the testimony, and he knew not that his face was horned from the conversation of the Lord.
- Ex 34:30And Aaron and the children of Israel seeing the face of Moses horned, were afraid to come near.
- Eccl 8:1The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.
- Dan 12:3But they that are learned, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity.
- Phil 2:15That you may be blameless and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the world.
- Matt 5:16So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- Matt 13:43Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
- John 5:35He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.