“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand… the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.”
— Exodus 34:29
When we picture Moses after Sinai, most of us imagine him carrying stone tablets like Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments. But there’s a detail Sunday School usually skipped: Moses’ face was literally glowing.
Radiant, or Horned?
Horned? Diane, what? Girl you’ve lost it.
Yes…horned. Let me explain.
The Hebrew says the “skin of his face shone” (qaran). But here’s the kicker: the root word can mean “to shine” or “to sprout horns.” That’s why, for centuries, some translations and even Michelangelo’s famous statue show Moses with little horns. Awkward.
What’s happening here is a divine glow… the aftereffects of being in God’s presence. Think less Halloween costume, more holy sunburn.
Why It Mattered
The glow wasn’t cosmetic. It terrified the people. Moses had to veil his face so Israel wouldn’t freak out when they saw the lingering glory. The veil became a symbol of separation: God’s glory was too intense for them to handle full-on.
Jewish Insight
In Jewish tradition, this radiance was proof of Torah’s power. Immersing in God’s Word and presence changes a person so deeply it can’t help but show on the outside. Midrash even connects Moses’ glow to the leftover ink from writing Torah… divine light absorbed into his very skin.
The New Testament Connection
Paul picks this up in 2 Corinthians 3. He says the glory on Moses’ face was fading, but the glory of the new covenant in Jesus is even greater and it doesn’t fade. Where Moses veiled, we behold the glory unveiled in Messiah, and we are transformed “from glory to glory.”
Why It Matters for Us
Moses came down from Sinai literally carrying God’s Word and shining with His presence. That same Word and Spirit still transform us today. You might not walk around glowing like a lantern, but people should see evidence of time spent with God. His presence leaves a mark.
Scripture Study:
Exodus 34:29–35 — Moses’ radiant face
Psalm 34:5 — Those who look to Him are radiant
2 Corinthians 3:7–18 — Unveiled faces reflecting God’s glory
Reflection:
Where in your life is God’s presence leaving a visible mark? What would it mean for you to walk “unveiled,” letting His glory shine through your ordinary life?
My Final Thoughts
Your Sunday School might have shown Moses with tablets, but it probably skipped the part where he walked around with a literal glow. Being in God’s presence changes you… sometimes in ways you can’t hide.
Amen: Exuding God's Glory! "Let your light so shine before men; that they may see My Glory.(Matthew 5:16)