Psalm 11 · a question people ask

"The upright shall see his face" (11:7). But doesn't the LORD say, "You cannot see my face" (Exodus 33:20)?

In the text

Both are in Scripture. The psalm says, "The upright shall see his face" (Psalm 11:7), and doesn't say when or how. Another psalm says, "As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness" (Psalm 17:15), with the same Hebrew verb and the same word for face (tap observe). To Moses the LORD said, "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live" (Exodus 33:20). John's Gospel says, "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). In his teaching on the mountain (Matthew 5:1-2), Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). And Revelation says, "The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him" (Revelation 22:3), and "They will see his face" (Revelation 22:4). Exodus 33's notes set out how Christians read "You cannot see my face" beside "face to face" (Exodus 33:11); these notes don't repeat them, and don't choose how these verses fit together.

The verses

“For the LORD is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.”
Psalm 11:7 · World English Bible
“As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.”
Psalm 17:15 · World English Bible
“The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.”
Exodus 33:11 · World English Bible
“He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.””
Exodus 33:20 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 11

Psalm 11: In the LORD, I take refuge

"His eyes observe" (11:4) and "The upright shall see his face" (11:7) are the same Hebrew word, yechezu: the LORD's eyes see, and the upright shall see his face. And the psalm that asks "what can the righteous do?" (11:3) ends, "For the LORD is righteous" (11:7), with the same word.

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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