And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. I will make all my goodness pass before thee, х Tuwb (H2898) signifies often, when applied to God, His benignity (Psalms 25:7; Psalms 145:7; Isaiah 63:7); but here, where it is spoken of in answer to Moses' request (Exodus 33:18), it is used as synonymous with "glory;" and thus there was a distinct promise that the request would be granted-with this limitation, however, that the revelation would not be a permanent display of the essential glory of God, on which his eyes might gaze, but only a sudden and transitory vision.]
And I will proclaim the name of the Lord, х wªqaaraa'tiy (H7121) bªsheem (H8034) Yahweh (H3068) lªpaaneykaa (H6440)]. This phrase is commonly used to signify, call upon the name of the Lord, invoking it in worship. But as the words in this passage were those of the Divine Being Himself, they must bear a different sense, which Gesenius has well expressed-`I will proclaim by name before thee, Yahweh'-as now present - i:e., in order that thou mayest know that God indeed is here, I will myself be the herald to announce my coming' (see the note at Exodus 34:6-7).
And will be gracious to whom I will be gracious ... This is added, to show that such an extraordinary discovery as was about to be made to Moses was not due to his merit, but was an act of free grace (cf. Romans 9:15).