Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Yigal,

> I assume that "qeren" "horn" became "ray", because of the sun's "rays"
> seeming to extend like "horns" of light. As far as what happened to Moses in
> Ex 34:29-30, 35, I'm not convinced that what it really means is that his
> face "shone". I know that that is the common interpretation (remember the
> movie?), but literally, "the skin of his face became horned" - perhaps some
> skin condition?

HH: It's hard to imagine what a skin condition 
producing horns might be. Of course, the Hiphil 
does exist as "produce/display horns" (Ps 69:32). 
Since I am a Christian, I accept the New 
Testament interpretation as true. Paul gives 
attention to what happened to Moses' face and 
what it implied:

2Cor. 3:7 ¶ Now if the ministry that brought 
death, which was engraved in letters on stone, 
came with glory, so that the Israelites could not 
look steadily at the face of Moses because of its 
glory, fading though it was,
2Cor. 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
2Cor. 3:9 If the ministry that condemns men is 
glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry 
that brings righteousness!
2Cor. 3:10 For what was glorious has no glory now 
in comparison with the surpassing glory.
2Cor. 3:11 And if what was fading away came with 
glory, how much greater is the glory of that 
which lasts!
2Cor. 3:12 ¶ Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
2Cor. 3:13 We are not like Moses, who would put a 
veil over his face to keep the Israelites from 
gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.
2Cor. 3:14 But their minds were made dull, for to 
this day the same veil remains when the old 
covenant is read. It has not been removed, 
because only in Christ is it taken away.
2Cor. 3:15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
2Cor. 3:16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2Cor. 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where 
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2Cor. 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all 
reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed 
into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, 
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2Cor. 4:1 ¶ Therefore, since through God's mercy 
we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2Cor. 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and 
shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we 
distort the word of God. On the contrary, by 
setting forth the truth plainly we commend 
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight 
of God.
2Cor. 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is 
veiled to those who are perishing.
2Cor. 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the 
minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the 
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who 
is the image of God.
2Cor. 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but 
Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your 
servants for Jesus' sake.
2Cor. 4:6 For God, who said,  "Let light shine 
out of darkness," made his light shine in our 
hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of 
the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2Cor. 4:7 ¶ But we have this treasure in jars of 
clay to show that this all-surpassing power is 
from God and not from us.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard