King James Version

What Does Exodus 33:5 Mean?

Exodus 33:5 in the King James Version says “For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the ...” — study this verse from Exodus chapter 33 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.”

Exodus 33:5 · KJV

Context

3

Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.

4

And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.

5

For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

6

And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

7

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Read Exodus 33 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Ye are a stiffnecked people—God repeats the diagnosis, emphasizing Israel's chronic rebellion. The warning 'I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee' shows that God's presence among sinful people is like fire among dry stubble. The command to remove ornaments becomes a test: will they humble themselves? This stripping prefigures the deeper work needed—circumcision of heart (Deuteronomy 10:16), which only God can perform (Deuteronomy 30:6).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This incident occurs during the forty days while Moses received the second set of tablets. The removal of ornaments created a visible, corporate sign of repentance that distinguished Israel's camp from surrounding nations.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways does your heart still exhibit 'stiff-necked' resistance to God's will?
  2. How does this passage point forward to the need for heart transformation that only the Holy Spirit can accomplish?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
אֱמֹ֤ר1 of 25

“Say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֜ה2 of 25

“For the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֶל3 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מֹשֶׁ֗ה4 of 25

“unto Moses”

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

אֱמֹ֤ר5 of 25

“Say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל6 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בְּנֵֽי7 of 25

“unto the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵל֙8 of 25

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אַתֶּ֣ם9 of 25
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

עַם10 of 25

“people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

קְשֵׁה11 of 25

“Ye are a stiffnecked”

H7186

severe (in various applications)

עֹ֔רֶף12 of 25
H6203

the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)

רֶ֧גַע13 of 25

“moment”

H7281

a wink (of the eyes), i.e., a very short space of time

אֶחָ֛ד14 of 25

“of thee in a”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

אֶֽעֱלֶ֥ה15 of 25

“I will come up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

בְקִרְבְּךָ֖16 of 25

“into the midst”

H7130

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

וְכִלִּיתִ֑יךָ17 of 25

“and consume”

H3615

to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

וְעַתָּ֗ה18 of 25
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

הוֹרֵ֤ד19 of 25

“thee therefore now put off”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

עֶדְיְךָ֙20 of 25

“thy ornaments”

H5716

finery; generally an outfit; specifically, a headstall

מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ21 of 25
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וְאֵֽדְעָ֖ה22 of 25

“from thee that I may know”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

מָ֥ה23 of 25
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אֶֽעֱשֶׂה24 of 25

“what to do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לָּֽךְ׃25 of 25
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Exodus 33:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Exodus 33:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 16:21Exodus 33:3-4Numbers 16:45-46Psalms 139:23Job 34:20Deuteronomy 8:2

Test Your Knowledge

Exodus 33 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterExodus Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

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