What Does Exodus 34:29-35 Mean?
The law in Exodus 34:29-35 defines the visible effect of God's presence on Moses after speaking with Him on Mount Sinai. Moses didn't realize his face was shining, but the people saw it and were afraid to come near. He spoke God's commands to them, then covered his face with a veil when he was done. Whenever he went back to speak with God, he removed the veil.
Exodus 34:29-35
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. And Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Law
Date
circa 1440 BC
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- God's presence changes us, even when we don't notice.
- The veil symbolized separation; Christ removes it forever.
- We reflect God's glory by being near Him.
Context of Moses' Shining Face in the Renewed Covenant
This passage comes right after God renews His covenant with Israel following their rebellion with the golden calf, giving Moses a new set of stone tablets and revealing His merciful, faithful nature on Mount Sinai.
After spending forty days and nights in God’s presence - without eating or drinking - Moses comes down the mountain carrying the Ten Commandments, unaware that his face is shining from being in God’s presence. The people are afraid to approach him because of this radiant glow, so Moses calls them close and shares God’s instructions. After speaking, he covers his face with a veil, only removing it when going back to speak with God.
This visible radiance shows how time spent with God leaves a mark on us - something real and noticeable, even if we don’t feel it. It also points forward to how, in the New Testament, Paul says believers now reflect God’s glory openly, not covered by a veil, because we’re being changed by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Radiance of God's Presence and the Veil of Mediation
Moses' shining face served as a visible sign of God's glory transferred through intimate communion, based on a Hebrew word with deeper meaning.
The Hebrew verb *qaran* - translated 'shone' - literally means 'to emit rays' or 'send out horns of light,' a vivid image used in ancient Near Eastern art to depict divine beings with radiant power. It was not magic or personal glory but the lingering brilliance of being in God's presence, similar to how skin stays warm after leaving sunlight. Other ancient laws, like those of Babylon or Hittite treaties, often showed gods giving commands through dreams or priests, but here, Israel’s leader bears the physical mark of direct encounter - proof that their God spoke face to face. Yet instead of inspiring awe that draws people in, it causes fear: 'they were afraid to come near him' (Exodus 34:30).
This fear shows a key truth: God’s holiness is not safe or casual - it’s powerful and separate from sin. So Moses steps in as a mediator, removing the veil only when speaking with God and covering it again afterward. This act created a rhythm: revelation, communication, then concealment - protecting the people while still delivering God’s word. Later, in 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul contrasts this with the New Testament reality: 'we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.' Where Moses’ glory faded and was hidden, Jesus’ glory is permanent and accessible through the Spirit.
The people saw God’s glory on Moses’ face, but instead of drawing near, they stood back in fear - so Moses covered it, showing that God’s holiness needed a mediator.
The veil represented more than light; it marked the barrier between the holy God and sinful people. But Paul goes further in 2 Corinthians 3:14, saying 'a veil lies over their hearts when they read the old covenant,' pointing to how only Christ removes spiritual blindness. This brief moment with Moses prepares the need for a Savior who is the glory itself, not merely a reflection, shining forever.
How God's Presence Transforms Us - Then and Now
Moses’ shining face shows that being with God changes us, but in the New Testament, that transformation becomes something we all can experience through Jesus.
In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul says, 'And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.' Unlike Moses, whose glory faded and was covered, believers now reflect God’s glory openly because of the Holy Spirit. This means we don’t need a mediator to hide God’s holiness - we’re being changed from the inside out by knowing Him through Christ.
So no, Christians don’t follow the law about veils or radiant faces, because Jesus fulfilled the deeper meaning: He brings us into God’s presence without fear, so we can shine with His life too.
The Veil Removed: From Moses' Glory to Our Transformation in Christ
The veil Moses wore symbolized the separation between God’s holiness and His people - a temporary covering that pointed forward to a time when that barrier would be permanently removed.
In 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, Paul contrasts the fading glory on Moses’ face with the lasting glory of the new covenant, saying, 'But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away... And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.' This same radiant glory appeared in Jesus at the Transfiguration, when 'His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light' (Matthew 17:2), revealing that He is the source of the glory Moses only reflected.
We don’t need a veil because Christ has opened the way for us to see God’s glory and be changed by it.
So the heart of this story isn’t about shining faces or ancient veils - it’s about how God changes those who draw near to Him, and because of Jesus, we can do so boldly, without coverings, being shaped more and more into His image.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I remember a season when I felt spiritually dry - going through the motions of prayer and Bible reading, but nothing seemed to stick. I didn’t feel different, and honestly, I didn’t think anyone else could tell I was even a Christian. But this story of Moses reminds me that transformation isn’t always something we feel. Like Moses, who was unaware his face shone, God can change us in ways others notice before we do. Maybe it’s a coworker noticing your patience in a stressful meeting, or a friend saying, 'You’ve been kinder lately.' That’s the glow of God’s presence - subtle, real, and powerful. The focus is not perfection but closeness. The more time we spend with God, the more His light leaks out, even when we’re unaware. Unlike Moses, we need not cover it; in Christ we are reshaped by glory rather than merely reflecting it.
Personal Reflection
- When was the last time someone noticed a change in me that I didn’t see? What might that say about the quiet work God is doing?
- Am I avoiding time with God because I don’t 'feel' spiritual enough? How does Moses’ unseen radiance challenge that?
- In what area of my life do I still act like I need to hide - like there’s a veil between me and God or others?
A Challenge For You
This week, add five minutes of quiet time with God to be with Him, not to check a box. Then, ask one trusted friend or family member: 'Have you noticed any changes in me lately - good or bad?' Be open to what they say, knowing God uses others to reflect His work in us.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you that being with you changes me, even when I don't feel it. Help me to keep coming close, not for show, but because I need you. Take away my fear of being seen, and remove the veils I hide behind. Shine your life through me, not because I’m good, but because you’re glorious. Help me reflect you by staying near you, through Jesus my Savior. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Exodus 34:28
Describes Moses' forty days with God, explaining the source of his radiant face in the next verse.
Exodus 34:30
Shows the people’s fear at seeing Moses’ shining face, setting up the need for the veil.
Connections Across Scripture
2 Corinthians 3:18
Paul references Moses’ veil to show how believers now behold God’s glory openly in Christ.
Matthew 17:2
Jesus’ transfiguration fulfills the pattern of divine radiance, revealing His eternal glory.
Exodus 19:20
God descends on Sinai in fire and smoke, showing the holiness that makes Moses’ glowing face significant.