Exodus 33:16
New International Version
How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

New Living Translation
How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”

English Standard Version
For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Berean Standard Bible
For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

King James Bible
For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

New King James Version
For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

New American Standard Bible
For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are on the face of the earth?”

NASB 1995
“For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

NASB 1977
“For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Thy sight, I and Thy people? Is it not by Thy going with us, so that we, I and Thy people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Indeed, how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

Amplified Bible
For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we are distinguished, Your people and I, from all the [other] people on the face of the earth?”

Christian Standard Bible
How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight unless You go with us? I and Your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”

American Standard Version
For wherein now shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people? is it not in that thou goest with us, so that we are separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?

Contemporary English Version
But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth."

English Revised Version
For wherein now shall it be known that I have found grace in thy sight, I and thy people? is it not in that thou goest with us, so that we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How will anyone ever know you're pleased with your people and me unless you go with us? Then we will be different from all other people on the face of the earth."

Good News Translation
How will anyone know that you are pleased with your people and with me if you do not go with us? Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth."

International Standard Version
Otherwise, how shall it be known that your people and I have received favor from you, unless you go with us and that we, your people and I, are distinguished from all the people on the surface of the earth?"

Majority Standard Bible
For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth??

NET Bible
For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?"

New Heart English Bible
For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn't it in that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?"

Webster's Bible Translation
For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

World English Bible
For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and in what is it known now, that I have found grace in Your eyes—I and Your people—is it not in Your going with us? And we have been distinguished—I and Your people—from all the people who [are] on the face of the ground.”

Young's Literal Translation
and in what is it known now, that I have found grace in Thine eyes -- I and Thy people -- is it not in Thy going with us? and we have been distinguished -- I and Thy people -- from all the people who are on the face of the ground.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And in what shall it be known here that I found favor in thine eyes, I and thy people? Is it not in thy going with us? and we shall be distinguished, I and thy people, above all the people which are upon the face of the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For how shall we be able to know, I and thy people, that we have found grace in thy sight, unless thou walk with us, that we may be glorified by all people that dwell upon the earth?

Catholic Public Domain Version
For how will we be able to know, I and your people, that we have found grace in your sight, unless you walk with us, so that we may be glorified out of all the people who live upon the earth?”

New American Bible
For how can it be known that I and your people have found favor with you, except by your going with us? Then we, your people and I, will be singled out from every other people on the surface of the earth.”

New Revised Standard Version
For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found mercy in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So that we be distinguished, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He said to him, “If you are not going with us, you will not bring us up from here.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For wherein now shall it be known that I have found grace in Thy sight, I and Thy people? is it not in that Thou goest with us, so that we are distinguished, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And how shall it be surely known, that both I and this people have found favour with thee, except only if thou go with us? So both I and thy people shall be glorified beyond all the nations, as many as are upon the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Glory of the LORD
15“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here. 16For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”…

Cross References
Numbers 6:25-26
may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; / may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’

Deuteronomy 4:7
For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?

Deuteronomy 9:29
But they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and outstretched arm.”

Psalm 4:3
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.

Psalm 67:1
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

Psalm 105:1-4
Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations. / Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. / Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. ...

Isaiah 63:8-9
For He said, “They are surely My people, sons who will not be disloyal.” So He became their Savior. / In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Ezekiel 37:27-28
My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people. / Then the nations will know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is among them forever.’”

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

John 17:21-23
that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. / I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— / I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.


Treasury of Scripture

For wherein shall it be known here that I and your people have found grace in your sight? is it not in that you go with us? so shall we be separated, I and your people, from all the people that are on the face of the earth.

in that

Numbers 14:14
And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

separated

Exodus 8:22
And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

Exodus 34:10
And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

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Distinct Distinguish Distinguished Earth Eyes Face Fact Favor Found Goest Grace Ground Pleased Separate Separated Sight Surface Unless Wherein
Exodus 33
1. The Lord refuses to go as he had promised with the people
4. The people mourn there
7. The tabernacle is removed out of the camp
9. The Lord talks familiarly with Moses
12. Moses prevails with God, and desires to see his glory














For how then can it be known
This phrase reflects Moses' deep concern for the recognition of God's favor upon Israel. The Hebrew root for "known" is "yada," which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. Moses seeks assurance that God's presence will be evident to all, not just in a theoretical sense but through tangible, lived experience. This highlights the importance of God's presence as a defining characteristic of His people, setting them apart through His active involvement in their lives.

that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight
The phrase "found favor" is derived from the Hebrew word "chen," meaning grace or favor. This indicates a special relationship between God and His people, one that is not based on their merit but on God's gracious choice. Moses emphasizes the collective identity of "Your people and I," underscoring the communal aspect of God's covenant relationship with Israel. This favor is a testament to God's faithfulness and love, which is foundational to the identity and mission of His people.

unless You go with us
The presence of God is central to the identity and success of Israel. The Hebrew word for "go" is "halak," which means to walk or accompany. Moses understands that without God's presence, their journey and efforts would be in vain. This reflects a deep dependency on God, recognizing that His presence is essential for guidance, protection, and blessing. It is a reminder that the true measure of success is not in human achievement but in the abiding presence of God.

How else will we be distinguished
The term "distinguished" comes from the Hebrew word "palah," meaning to be set apart or made distinct. This distinction is not based on Israel's own abilities or characteristics but on the presence of God among them. It is God's presence that sets His people apart from all others, marking them as His own. This distinction is both a privilege and a responsibility, calling Israel to live in a way that reflects God's holiness and character.

from all the other people on the face of the earth
This phrase emphasizes the universal scope of God's plan and the unique role of Israel within it. The Hebrew word for "earth" is "erets," which can refer to the land or the entire world. Israel's distinction is meant to be a witness to all nations, demonstrating the reality and goodness of God. This global perspective underscores the missional aspect of Israel's identity, as they are called to be a light to the nations, revealing God's glory and inviting others into His covenant community.

Verse 16. - So shall we be separated. Rather, "So shall we be distinguished." God's presence with them would distinguish them from all the other nations of the earth - place them in a category alone and apart from all others. Angelic guidance would not have done this; for even heathen nations had their protecting angels (Daniel 10:13, 20; Daniel 11:1).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For how then
וּבַמֶּ֣ה ׀ (ū·ḇam·meh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can it be known
יִוָּדַ֣ע (yiw·wā·ḏa‘)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Your people
וְעַמֶּ֔ךָ (wə·‘am·me·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and I
אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

have found
מָצָ֨אתִי (mā·ṣā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

favor
חֵ֤ן (ḥên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2580: Graciousness, subjective, objective

in Your sight,
בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

unless
הֲל֖וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

You go
בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֣ (bə·leḵ·tə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with us?
עִמָּ֑נוּ (‘im·mā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

[How else will] we
אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

be distinguished
וְנִפְלֵ֙ינוּ֙‪‬ (wə·nip̄·lê·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6395: To be separated or distinct

from all
מִכָּ֨ל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the other people
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the face
פְּנֵ֥י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the earth?”
הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land


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OT Law: Exodus 33:16 For how would people know that (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 33:15
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