Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Commentary for Exodus 33:23

וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ אֶת־כַּפִּ֔י וְרָאִ֖יתָ אֶת־אֲחֹרָ֑י וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֥א יֵרָאֽוּ׃ (ס)

And I will take away My hand, and thou shalt see My back; but My face shall not be seen.’

Rashi on Exodus

והסרתי את כפי AND I WILL REMOVE MY HAND — The Targum renders this by ואעדי ית דברת יקרי “I will remove the guidance of My Glory”; it means: when I shall remove the guidance of My Glory from before thine eyes — to go right away from that place,
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Ramban on Exodus

BUT MY FACE SHALL NOT BE SEEN — meaning the clear countenance, as I have explained.498Above, Verse 18. It is possible that the word achorai (My back — and thou shalt see ‘My back’) is of similar usage as in the verse, Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before,499Psalms 139:5. in accordance with the opinion of our Rabbis.500Based on this verse in Psalms the Rabbis have said (Berachoth 61 a) that Adam was originally created with two faces (see Vol. I, p. 76). Ramban’s application here of this saying of the Sages is Cabalistic.
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Sforno on Exodus

וראית את אחורי, where you will be able to glimpse how all the celestial forces below My level of Divinity carry out their activities; but
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Or HaChaim on Exodus

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Rashbam on Exodus

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Siftei Chakhamim

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Rav Hirsch on Torah

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Daat Zkenim on Exodus

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Chizkuni

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Rashi on Exodus

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Sforno on Exodus

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Or HaChaim on Exodus

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Or HaChaim on Exodus

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