Did Moses or the Israelites ever see Yahweh's face?

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Did Moses or the Israelites ever see Yahweh's face?

No.

At Horeb, the LORD descended on Mount Sinai in fire to meet with the Israelites. The Israelites only heard the voice of the LORD out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness but saw no form.   


Exodus 19

17

Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18

Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. 


Deuteronomy 5

22

These are the commandments the LORD proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness

Deuteronomy 4

11

You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.

12

And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.

Deut 5:4 states that the LORD spoke face to face with the Israelites out of the fire; the Israelites only heard His voice, but saw no form.

Deuteronomy 5

4

The LORD spoke with you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

Therefore, the phrase, face to face, should not be misinterpreted as the Israelites seeing the LORD's face.

Similarly, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face; it wasn't Moses who spoke face to face i.e. Moses did not see the face of the LORD when he spoke to Yahweh.

Exodus 33

9

As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.

11

Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

Moses saw the form of the LORD but not His face.

Numbers 12

8

With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord.

The LORD said to Moses, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

Exodus 33

20

He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”


This implies that Yahweh never revealed His face when He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.


Read: Yahweh and the Man who wrestled with Jacob

Read Exodus: Q&A

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