And YHWHוַ יְהוָהpassed byיַּעֲבֹרbefore himעַל פָּנָיוand proclaimed,וַיִּקְרָא“YHWH,יְהוָהYHWH,יְהוָהan Elאֵלmercifulרַחוּםand gracious,וְחַנּוּןslowאֶרֶךְto anger,אַפַּיִםand aboundingוְרַבin loyal loveחֶסֶדand faithfulness,וֶאֱמֶת
Exodus 34:6
Study it in the app“And YHWH passed by before him and proclaimed, “YHWH, YHWH, an El merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness,”
God describes himself to Moses: merciful, slow to anger, great in steadfast loveWho God IsGod introduces himself to Moses: merciful, gracious, slow to angerGraceGod describes himself to Moses as compassionate and slow to angerWaiting on God
With the Hebrew beneath
Exodus 34:6, word by word
- And YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- passed byיַּעֲבֹרyaavor
pass
To get over a river, or go through a land.
Where else “yaavor” appears- before himפָּנָיpanay
before
Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.
Where else “panay” appears- and proclaimedיִּקְרָאyikra
proclaim
To announce aloud.
Where else “yikra” appears- an Elאֵלel
El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
Where else “el” appears- mercifulרַחוּםrachum
merciful
Merciful: who feels tenderness and compassion. Said almost always of God.
Where else “rachum” appears- and graciousחַנּוּןchanun
gracious
Gracious, merciful: who shows favor to one in need. Said almost always of God.
Where else “chanun” appears- slowאֶרֶךְerech
slow
Patient, unhurried to anger.
Where else “erech” appears- to angerאַפַּיִםapayim
anger
The rage of one who snorts; the "long of nose" is slow to become angry.
Where else “apayim” appears- and aboundingרַבrav
much
In great quantity, more than expected.
Where else “rav” appears- in loyal loveחֶסֶדchesed
loyal love
God's steadfast kindness, true to his covenant, never forsaking.
Where else “chesed” appears- and faithfulnessאֱמֶתemet
faithfulness
That one can rely on him because he keeps his word.
Where else “emet” appears
Translation note
“Slow to anger” is literally “long of nostrils”: slow to become angry. This description is repeated in Numbers 14:18, Psalm 86:15, Joel 2:13, and Jonah 4:2.
The context
5And YHWH descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of YHWH.
6 · This verse (above)
7keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, calling to account the iniquity of fathers on sons and on sons’ sons, to the third and to the fourth generation.”