Exodus 34:28
New International Version
Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.

New Living Translation
Moses remained there on the mountain with the LORD forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the LORD wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets.

English Standard Version
So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Berean Standard Bible
So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.

King James Bible
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

New King James Version
So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

New American Standard Bible
So he was there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

NASB 1995
So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

NASB 1977
So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Legacy Standard Bible
So he was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Amplified Bible
Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Christian Standard Bible
Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat food or drink water. He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Moses was there with the LORD 40 days and 40 nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets.

American Standard Version
And he was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

Contemporary English Version
Moses stayed on the mountain with the LORD for 40 days and nights, without eating or drinking. And he wrote down the Ten Commandments, the most important part of God's agreement with his people.

English Revised Version
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Moses was there with the LORD 40 days and 40 nights without food or water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the promise, the ten commandments.

Good News Translation
Moses stayed there with the LORD forty days and nights, eating and drinking nothing. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant--the Ten Commandments.

International Standard Version
While Moses was there with the LORD for 40 days and 40 nights, he did not eat or drink. He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets.

Majority Standard Bible
So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant?the Ten Commandments.

NET Bible
So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

New Heart English Bible
He was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water: and he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

World English Bible
He was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he is there with YHWH forty days and forty nights; he has not eaten bread, and he has not drunk water; and he writes on the tablets the matters of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.

Young's Literal Translation
And he is there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; bread he hath not eaten, and water he hath not drunk; and he writeth on the tables the matters of the covenant -- the ten matters.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will be there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he ate not bread and drank not water. And he will write upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten words.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights: he neither ate bread nor drank water, and he wrote upon the tables the ten words of the covenant.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, he was in that place with the Lord for forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread and he did not drink water, and he wrote on the tablets the ten words of the covenant.

New American Bible
So Moses was there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights, without eating any food or drinking any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words.

New Revised Standard Version
He was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote upon the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe, “Write for yourselves these statements, because I have established these words as a covenant with you and with all Israel.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten words.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses was there before the Lord forty days, and forty nights; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water; and he wrote upon the tables these words of the covenant, the ten sayings.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Renews the Covenant
27The LORD also said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant— the Ten Commandments. 29And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 9:9-11
When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water. / Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, inscribed by the finger of God with the exact words that the LORD spoke to you out of the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly. / And at the end of forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.

Deuteronomy 10:1-5
At that time the LORD said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. / And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to place them in the ark.” / So I made an ark of acacia wood, chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. ...

Deuteronomy 4:13
He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandments that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

Deuteronomy 5:22
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

1 Kings 19:8
So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

Matthew 4:2
After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

Luke 4:2
where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

Hebrews 9:4
containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

2 Corinthians 3:7-8
Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

2 Corinthians 3:13
We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

Exodus 24:18
Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 31:18
When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Exodus 32:15-16
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. / The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

Exodus 19:20
The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,

Nehemiah 9:13-14
You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. / You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses.


Treasury of Scripture

And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote on the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

forty days

Exodus 24:18
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Deuteronomy 9:9,18,25
When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: …

he wrote

Exodus 34:1
And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.

Exodus 31:18
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Exodus 32:16
And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

commandments.

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Ate Bread Commandments Covenant Drank Drink Drinking Eat Eating Food Forty Moses Nights Stones Tables Tablets Ten Time Water Words Writing Wrote
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Ate Bread Commandments Covenant Drank Drink Drinking Eat Eating Food Forty Moses Nights Stones Tables Tablets Ten Time Water Words Writing Wrote
Exodus 34
1. The tablets are replaced
5. The name of the Lord proclaimed
8. Moses entreats God to go with them
10. God makes a covenant with them, repeating certain duties
28. Moses after forty days on the mount, comes down with the tablets
29. His face is radiant, and he covers it with a veil














So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights
This phrase highlights the significant period Moses spent in the presence of God on Mount Sinai. The number forty is symbolic in the Bible, often associated with periods of testing, trial, and preparation. For example, the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years (Numbers 14:33-34), and Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). This time frame underscores the importance and solemnity of the covenant being established. It also emphasizes Moses' unique role as a mediator between God and the Israelites.

without eating bread or drinking water
Moses' fasting during this period is a supernatural event, as it is humanly impossible to survive without food and water for forty days. This miraculous fast signifies Moses' complete dependence on God and his total dedication to the divine mission. It also prefigures the fasting of Jesus, who similarly went without food for forty days and nights, highlighting a connection between Moses as a type of Christ, both serving as mediators of a covenant.

He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant
This phrase refers to the act of inscribing the Ten Commandments on stone tablets, which Moses did under God's direction. The tablets symbolize the permanence and unchanging nature of God's law. The covenant mentioned here is the Mosaic Covenant, a foundational aspect of Israel's identity and relationship with God. It established the terms by which the Israelites were to live as God's chosen people, setting them apart from other nations.

the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments are a central element of the Mosaic Law, serving as a moral and ethical foundation for the Israelites. They are divided into two sections: the first four commandments focus on the relationship between God and humanity, while the last six address interpersonal relationships. These commandments are reiterated in Deuteronomy 5 and are foundational to Judeo-Christian ethics. They also foreshadow the teachings of Jesus, who summarized the law as love for God and love for neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). The giving of the Ten Commandments is a pivotal moment in biblical history, representing God's direct communication of His will to His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The central human figure in this passage, Moses is the leader of the Israelites and the mediator between God and His people. He is on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who reveals His laws and commandments to Moses. His presence is central to the event of giving the Ten Commandments.

3. Mount Sinai
The mountain where Moses meets with God. It is a place of divine revelation and covenant-making.

4. The Tablets
These are the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed. They represent God's covenant with Israel.

5. The Covenant
The agreement between God and Israel, symbolized by the Ten Commandments, which are foundational to Israel's identity and relationship with God.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Divine Encounter
Moses' time on Mount Sinai underscores the necessity of seeking God's presence for guidance and revelation. Believers are encouraged to prioritize time with God in prayer and study.

The Significance of the Covenant
The Ten Commandments are not just rules but a covenantal relationship with God. Christians are called to live in a way that reflects their covenant with God through Christ.

Fasting and Spiritual Discipline
Moses' fasting is a model of dedication and spiritual discipline. Believers can practice fasting as a means to draw closer to God and seek His will.

The Role of the Mediator
Moses as a mediator points to Jesus Christ, the ultimate mediator of the New Covenant. Christians can find assurance in Christ's intercession on their behalf.

Obedience to God's Word
The giving of the Ten Commandments highlights the importance of obedience to God's Word. Believers are called to live according to God's commands as an expression of their faith.(28) He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights.--As on his former ascent (Exodus 24:18). The long time is, at first sight, surprising, since there were now no instructions to be given. But we learn from Deuteronomy (Exodus 9:18-19) that it was required for an earnest and prolonged intercession by Moses on behalf of his nation, which ultimately prevailed with God, and induced Him to put away His "anger and hot displeasure."

He did neither eat bread, nor drink water.--A similar fast had been kept on the previous occasion (Deuteronomy 9:9), though it is not mentioned in Exodus. Fasts of this extraordinary duration are only recorded of Moses, of Elijah (1Kings 19:8), and of our Lord (Matthew 4:2). They are absolutely miraculous, and modern attempts to rival them are viewed by scientific men as deriving such apparent success as may have attended them from imposture. . . .

Verse 28. - He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. As on the former occasion (Exodus 24:18). The patience and faith of the people was tested by this second long delay. Happily, they stood the test; and on Moses' final descent from Sinai the Israelites were found expectant and obedient (vers. 30-32). He did neither eat bread nor drink water. This was so also on the former occasion (Deuteronomy 9:9), though it is not mentioned in Exodus. The near presence of God sustained the vital powers and made food unnecessary. Moses, Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), and our Lord have alone accomplished a fast of this duration. Modern parodies are not held by scientific men to belong to the category of established facts. He wrote upon the tables. It has been argued from this expression that Moses wrote the words on the second tables; and it would be natural so to understand the passage, had nothing else been said on the subject. But in ver. 1 we are told that "God said, I will write upon these tables;" and the same is repeated in Deuteronomy 10:2. Moreover in Deuteronomy 10:4, it is distinctly declared "He" (i.e. God) "wrote on the tables according to the first writing." We must therefore regard "he" in this passage as meaning "the Lord," which is quite possible according to the Hebrew idiom.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Moses was
וַֽיְהִי־ (way·hî-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

there
שָׁ֣ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

forty
אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

days
יוֹם֙ (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

and forty
וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים (wə·’ar·bā·‘îm)
Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

nights
לַ֔יְלָה (lay·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

without
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

eating
אָכַ֔ל (’ā·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

bread
לֶ֚חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

or drinking
שָׁתָ֑ה (šā·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

water.
וּמַ֖יִם (ū·ma·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

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

the tablets
הַלֻּחֹ֗ת (hal·lu·ḥōṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3871: To glisten, a tablet, of stone, wood, metal

the words
הַדְּבָרִֽים׃ (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the covenant—
הַבְּרִ֔ית (hab·bə·rîṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

the Ten
עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת (‘ă·śe·reṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6235: Ten

Commandments.
דִּבְרֵ֣י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT Law: Exodus 34:28 He was there with Yahweh forty days (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 34:27
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