Exodus 32:15
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּ֜פֶן
turned
H6437
וַיִּ֜פֶן
turned
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
1 of 17
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
וַיֵּ֤רֶד
and went down
H3381
וַיֵּ֤רֶד
and went down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
2 of 17
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
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 17
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָהָ֔ר
from the mount
H2022
הָהָ֔ר
from the mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
5 of 17
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
לֻחֹ֗ת
tables
H3871
לֻחֹ֗ת
tables
Strong's:
H3871
Word #:
7 of 17
probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal
בְּיָד֑וֹ
were in his hand
H3027
בְּיָד֑וֹ
were in his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
9 of 17
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
לֻחֹ֗ת
tables
H3871
לֻחֹ֗ת
tables
Strong's:
H3871
Word #:
10 of 17
probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal
כְּתֻבִֽים׃
on the one side and on the other were they written
H3789
כְּתֻבִֽים׃
on the one side and on the other were they written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
11 of 17
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
עֶבְרֵיהֶ֔ם
their sides
H5676
עֶבְרֵיהֶ֔ם
their sides
Strong's:
H5676
Word #:
13 of 17
properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the jordan; ususally meaning
מִזֶּ֥ה
H2088
וּמִזֶּ֖ה
H2088
Historical Context
Moses spent 40 days on Sinai receiving the law (Ex 24:18). The tablets were written by God's finger (v16), making them utterly unique in biblical history. Their destruction (v19) would necessitate a second set (Ex 34:1).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the care given to preserving God's Word reflect its value?
- What does the complete divine authorship of Scripture mean for its authority today?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses descended (וַיִּפֶן וַיֵּרֶד, vayyifen vayyered, turned and went down) carrying שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת הָעֵדֻת (shnei luchot ha'edut, the two tablets of the testimony). The עֵדוּת (edut, testimony) emphasizes these were witness to God's covenant. Written מִשְּׁנֵי עֶבְרֵיהֶם (mishney evreihem, on both sides), they were completely filled with God's law. The detail מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה (mizeh umizeh, on one side and on the other) stresses the tablets' comprehensive divine revelation, wholly God's work with no human contribution.