King James Bible
"And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."
God describes removing His protective hand that has been shielding Moses from His full glory. This action marks the moment when Moses will receive a partial revelation, as God controls the timing and extent of what can be safely revealed to mortal eyes. Moses is permitted to see God's "back" or aftereffects—likely meaning the lingering radiance or wake of His passing presence. This anthropomorphic language conveys that Moses will experience God's glory indirectly, seeing where God has been rather than confronting Him directly. The direct, full revelation of God's essence remains forbidden, as no human can survive such unmediated encounter with divine holiness. This limitation underscores both God's transcendent majesty and His mercy in protecting Moses from what would be overwhelming.