Exodus 34:28
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיְהִי
H1961
וַֽיְהִי
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
שָׁ֣ם
H8033
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
3 of 22
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
יְהוָ֗ה
And he was there with the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
And he was there with the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יוֹם֙
days
H3117
יוֹם֙
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 22
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
לַ֔יְלָה
nights
H3915
לַ֔יְלָה
nights
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
8 of 22
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
לֶ֚חֶם
bread
H3899
לֶ֚חֶם
bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
9 of 22
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
10 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
וּמַ֖יִם
water
H4325
וּמַ֖יִם
water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
12 of 22
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב
And he wrote
H3789
וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב
And he wrote
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
15 of 22
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
16 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַלֻּחֹ֗ת
upon the tables
H3871
הַלֻּחֹ֗ת
upon the tables
Strong's:
H3871
Word #:
17 of 22
probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
18 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַדְּבָרִֽים׃
commandments
H1697
הַדְּבָרִֽים׃
commandments
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
19 of 22
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
הַבְּרִ֔ית
of the covenant
H1285
הַבְּרִ֔ית
of the covenant
Strong's:
H1285
Word #:
20 of 22
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
Cross References
Exodus 34:1And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.Exodus 24:18And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.Deuteronomy 4:13And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.Deuteronomy 9:18And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.Deuteronomy 9:25Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.Exodus 32:16And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.Exodus 31:18And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.2 Corinthians 3:7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
Historical Context
These six nations (sometimes seven with Girgashites) inhabited various parts of Canaan. Their destruction was not ethnic hatred but divine judgment on societies thoroughly corrupted by idolatry and moral depravity (Lev 18:24-30).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God fight for those who obey His voice?
- What 'enemies' in your spiritual life will God vanquish if you fully trust and obey Him?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Obedience to God's voice brings total victory over enemies—God Himself becomes Israel's enemy's enemy (אֹיֵב אֹיְבֶיךָ, oyev oyvekha). The angel-led conquest is comprehensive: Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, Jebusites (six nations) will be 'cut off' (כָּחַד, kachad—destroyed/made to perish). Covenant obedience activates covenant protection and blessing.