Exodus 34:9

“O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses speaks to the Lord immediately after bowing in worship, following God’s declaration to renew the covenant. He addresses God directly as he intercedes for the Israelites.

The words — Moses uses חֵן (chen), meaning "favor," and בְּעֵינֶיךָ (be./'ei.Nei./kha), meaning "in your view," to frame his request. He pairs these with נָא (na), an entreaty particle rendered "please," to intensify his plea for divine accompaniment.

The thread — The request to be taken as God’s inheritance aligns with Deuteronomy 32:9 and Psalm 33:12, which identify the people as His allotted portion. Psalm 94:14 later confirms that God will not abandon this same heritage.

Why it lands — The verse records Moses asking God to forgive a stiff-necked people and remain with them despite their rebellion. It requires the reader to acknowledge that covenant continuity depends on God’s choice to forgive and dwell among His people, not on their own reliability.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.

Cross-references

Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!
Deuteronomy 32:9 But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance.
Psalms 94:14 For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.
Exodus 33:13 Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”
Psalms 28:9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them forever.
Psalms 135:4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own, Israel as His treasured possession.
Jeremiah 10:16 The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—the LORD of Hosts is His name.
Exodus 32:9 The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.
Exodus 19:5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
Psalms 78:62 He surrendered His people to the sword because He was enraged by His heritage.