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Leviticus 9 · a question people ask

Moses said, "today the LORD appears to you". Did the people see God?

In the text

Moses says it both ways: "for today the LORD appears to you" (9:4), and "the LORD’s glory shall appear to you" (9:6). When it happens, the chapter says "the LORD’s glory appeared to all the people" (9:23). Then fire "consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted" (9:24). The chapter doesn't describe a form. Exodus says, "The appearance of the LORD’s glory was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain" (Exodus 24:17), and the LORD told Moses, "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live" (Exodus 33:20). John writes, "No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him" (John 1:18), and of Jesus, "We saw his glory" (John 1:14).

The verses

“and a bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meal offering mixed with oil: for today the LORD appears to you.’””
Leviticus 9:4 · World English Bible
“Moses said, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded that you should do; and the LORD’s glory shall appear to you.””
Leviticus 9:6 · World English Bible
“Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out, and blessed the people; and the LORD’s glory appeared to all the people. Fire came out from before the LORD, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”
Leviticus 9:23-24 · World English Bible
“The appearance of the LORD’s glory was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.”
Exodus 24:17 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Leviticus 9

Leviticus 9: The LORD's glory appeared

On the eighth day, after seven days at the door of the tent, Aaron himself offers at the altar: first for his own sin, then for the people's (9:7-8, 9:15). Then he lifts up his hands and blesses them. The words "the LORD’s glory" are in Leviticus only here: promised in 9:6, it "appeared to all the people" (9:23), and fire from before the LORD consumed the offering (9:24).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions