Episode 162 explores the apparent contradiction between Exodus 24:9–11, where Moses and the elders "see the God of Israel" and survive, and Exodus 33:20, which warns that no one can see God’s face and live. The host explains the likely solution: the elders experienced a mediated theophany—a limited, veiled manifestation of God (focusing on the sapphire pavement and divine presence) rather than God’s full, unfiltered essence.
The episode summarizes linguistic, theological, and historical perspectives (Septuagint readings, Hebrew terms, rabbinic and scholarly views) and concludes that God reveals himself in degrees suited to human capacity, offering a coherent way to understand both passages.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com
- Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI
- MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1997.
- Wyckoff, Eric John. "When Does Translation Become Exegesis? Exodus 24:9-11 in the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint." The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, vol. 74, no. 4, 2012, pp. 675-693.
- "How did the Elders of Israel see God and live?" Verse By Verse Ministry International. https://versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/how-did-the-elders-of-israel-see-god-and-live
- "Exodus Chapter 24." Enduring Word Bible Commentary. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/exodus-24/
- "Can humans see God and live? (Exodus 33:20 vs. Exodus 24:9-11)." Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/q/can_humans_see_god_and_survive.htm
- "If Exodus 33:11 says Moses spoke with God 'face to face,' how do we reconcile this with Exodus 33:20 where God says no one can see His face and live?" Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/q/how_does_exodus_33_11_align_with_33_20.htm
- "Elders Seeing God." Christian Study Library. https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/elders-seeing-god
- "Vision of God of Exodus 24:10-11." Aish.com. https://aish.com/vision-of-god-of-exodus-2410-11/
- "Did Moses Literally See the Face of God?" Robert Bowman Jr. https://robertbowman.net/2019/06/24/did-moses-literally-see-the-face-of-god/
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