Exodus 34:5
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּ֤רֶד
descended
H3381
וַיֵּ֤רֶד
descended
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
1 of 9
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
יְהוָֽה׃
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 9
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן
in the cloud
H6051
בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן
in the cloud
Strong's:
H6051
Word #:
3 of 9
a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud
וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב
and stood
H3320
וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב
and stood
Strong's:
H3320
Word #:
4 of 9
to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue
עִמּ֖וֹ
H5973
עִמּ֖וֹ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
5 of 9
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
שָׁ֑ם
H8033
וַיִּקְרָ֥א
with him there and proclaimed
H7121
וַיִּקְרָ֥א
with him there and proclaimed
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
7 of 9
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Exodus 33:19And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.Exodus 33:9And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.Numbers 11:25And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.Numbers 11:17And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.Isaiah 1:10Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.Psalms 102:21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;Proverbs 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.Exodus 19:18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.Deuteronomy 32:3Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
Historical Context
The cloud had guided Israel from Egypt (13:21-22) and now becomes the location for this crucial covenant renewal. This theophany parallels God's appearances to the patriarchs.
Questions for Reflection
- What is significant about God proclaiming His own name rather than having Moses speak it?
- How does the cloud illustrate the tension between God's transcendence and immanence?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD descends in the cloud (עָנָן, anan)—the visible manifestation of divine presence (Shekinah glory). God takes the initiative to 'stand with him there' and proclaims His own name (שֵׁם יְהוָה, shem YHWH). This self-revelation is unprecedented—God defines Himself not merely in power but in character. The cloud signifies both revelation and concealment; God makes Himself known while preserving His transcendence.