Exodus 33:3

Go up ¹  to a land flowing with milk and honey. But ²  I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you ³  on the way.”

Ex 3:8; Ex 13:5; Ex 23:21; Ex 32:9; Ex 32:10,14; Ex 32:10; Ex 33:15-17; Ex 34:9; Le 20:24; Nu 13:27; Nu 14:8; Nu 14:12; Nu 16:13; Nu 16:21,45; De 9:6-13; De 32:26,27; Jos 5:6; 1Sa 2:30; Ps 78:8; Jer 11:5; Jer 18:7-10; Eze 3:18,19; Eze 33:13-16; Am 3:13,14; Jon 3:4,10; Ac 7:51

¹ tn This verse seems to be a continuation of the command to “go up” since it begins with “to a land….” The intervening clauses are therefore parenthetical or relative. But the translation is made simpler by supplying the verb.

² tn This is a strong adversative here, “but.”

³ tn The clause is “lest I consume you.” It would go with the decision not to accompany them: “I will not go up with you…lest I consume (destroy) you in the way.” The verse is saying that because of the people’s bent to rebellion, Yahweh would not remain in their midst as he had formerly said he would do. Their lives would be at risk if he did.