30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

Other Translations of Exodus 34:30

New International Version

30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.

English Standard Version

30 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.

The Message

30 Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, saw his radiant face, and held back, afraid to get close to him.

New King James Version

30 So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.

New Living Translation

30 So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses' face, they were afraid to come near him.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 34:30

Commentary on Exodus 34:28-35

(Read Exodus 34:28-35)

Near and spiritual communion with God improves the graces of a renewed and holy character. Serious godliness puts a lustre upon a man's countenance, such as commands esteem and affection. The vail which Moses put on, marked the obscurity of that dispensation, compared with the gospel dispensation of the New Testament. It was also an emblem of the natural vail on the hearts of men respecting spiritual things. Also the vail that was and is upon the nation of Israel, which can only be taken away by the Spirit of the Lord showing to them Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Fear and unbelief would put the vail before us, they would hinder our free approach to the mercy-seat above. We should spread our wants, temporal and spiritual, fully before our heavenly Father; we should tell him our hinderances, struggles, trails, and temptations; we should acknowledge our offences.