Notes on Exodus · §31 · Origen of Alexandria

Why God kept Moses forty days

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Origen is commenting on Exodus 31:1, explaining why God kept Moses on the mountain for forty days before giving the law.

And the Lord spoke to Moses (Exodus 31:1). The all-wise God held Moses for whole forty days to give the law, although he was fully able to give the law in three days. But he did this so that the time of Moses' absence might expose the hidden impiety in the depth of the Jews' hearts.

Greek

Στίχ. α΄. Καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωϋσῆν. Ἐν ὅλαις τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέραις δοῦναι τὸν νόμον κατεῖχε τὸν Μωῦσῆν (11) ὁ πάνσοφος Θεὸς, καίτοι δυνατῶς ἔχων ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις δοῦναι τὸν Νόμον. Ἀλλʼ ἵνα τὸ κεκρυμμένον τῆς ἀσεβείας ἐν τῷ βάθει τῆς καρδίας τῶν Ἰουδαίων ὁ χρόνος τῆς ἀπουσίας Μωῦσέως ἐλέγξῃ.

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About this text

Origen's short notes on selected verses of Exodus, such as the command against idols and the high priest's robe.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254) wrote these notes on Exodus. They are not his homilies on Exodus, and they are not his selections on Exodus.

He takes up the command against an idol. An idol is not the same as a likeness, and bowing down is not the same as serving. The hypocrite bows down and does not serve. The note points to the book it calls Arithmoi.

He also speaks of the high priest's covering in front and behind, a shield against hostile counsel, and of why God kept Moses forty days. The delay would expose the hidden impiety in the hearts of the Jews. The citations use the old names of the biblical books.

Fresh English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from de La Rue, Origen's Works, vol. 7 (Migne PG 17, Paris 1857) (Greek)

This work has passed our source check. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Greek on any section to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

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