Back to Exodus 32

Exodus 32:1-35

When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.”

Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.”

All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.”

They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, who you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves! They have turned away quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

Yahweh said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people. Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”

Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?’ Turn from your fierce wrath, and turn away from this evil against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ”

So Yahweh turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people.

Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides. They were written on one side and on the other. The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is the noise of war in the camp.”

He said, “It isn’t the voice of those who shout for victory. It is not the voice of those who cry for being overcome; but the noise of those who sing that I hear.” As soon as he came near to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Then Moses’ anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain. He took the calf which they had made, and burned it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it.

Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you have brought a great sin on them?”

Aaron said, “Don’t let the anger of my lord grow hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods, which shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them take it off.’ So they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

When Moses saw that the people were out of control, (for Aaron had let them lose control, causing derision among their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on Yahweh’s side, come to me!” All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

He said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ” The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. About three thousand men fell of the people that day. Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to Yahweh, for every man was against his son and against his brother, that he may give you a blessing today.”

On the next day, Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin.”

Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.”

Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.” Yahweh struck the people, because of what they did with the calf, which Aaron made.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.”

    Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.”

    All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.

    He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

    When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.”

    They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

    Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, who you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!

    They have turned away quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

    Yahweh said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people.

    Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”

    Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

    Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?’ Turn from your fierce wrath, and turn away from this evil against your people.

    Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ”

    So Yahweh turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people.

    Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides. They were written on one side and on the other.

    The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

    When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is the noise of war in the camp.”

    He said, “It isn’t the voice of those who shout for victory. It is not the voice of those who cry for being overcome; but the noise of those who sing that I hear.”

    As soon as he came near to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Then Moses’ anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain.

    He took the calf which they had made, and burned it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it.

    Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you have brought a great sin on them?”

    Aaron said, “Don’t let the anger of my lord grow hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.

    For they said to me, ‘Make us gods, which shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’

    I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them take it off.’ So they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

    When Moses saw that the people were out of control, (for Aaron had let them lose control, causing derision among their enemies),

    then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on Yahweh’s side, come to me!” All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

    He said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ”

    The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. About three thousand men fell of the people that day.

    Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to Yahweh, for every man was against his son and against his brother, that he may give you a blessing today.”

    On the next day, Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin.”

    Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold.

    Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.”

    Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book.

    Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

    Yahweh struck the people, because of what they did with the calf, which Aaron made.

  • KJV King James Version

    And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

    And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

    And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

    And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

    And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

    And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

    They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

    And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

    Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

    And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

    Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

    Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

    And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

    And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.

    And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

    And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

    And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

    And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

    And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

    And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

    And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

    For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

    And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

    And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

    Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

    And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

    And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

    For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

    And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

    And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

    Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

    Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

    And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

Show all 3 translations
  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him: 'Up, make us a god who shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.'

    And Aaron said unto them: 'Break off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.'

    And all the people broke off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

    And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf; and they said: 'This is thy god, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.'

    And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said: 'To-morrow shall be a feast to the LORD.'

    And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to make merry.

    And the LORD spoke unto Moses: 'Go, get thee down; for thy people, that thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have dealt corruptly;

    they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and said: This is thy god, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.'

    And the LORD said unto Moses: 'I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people.

    Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation.'

    And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said: 'LORD, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, that Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

    Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, saying: For evil did He bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people.

    Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou didst swear by Thine own self, and saidst unto them: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.'

    And the LORD repented of the evil which He said He would do unto His people.

    And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.

    And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

    And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses: 'There is a noise of war in the camp.'

    And he said: 'It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome, but the noise of them that sing do I hear.'

    And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount.

    And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

    And Moses said unto Aaron: 'What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?'

    And Aaron said: 'Let not the anger of my lord wax hot; thou knowest the people, that they are set on evil.

    So they said unto me: Make us a god, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.

    And I said unto them: Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off; so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.'

    And when Moses saw that the people were broken loose — for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies —

    then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said: 'Whoso is on the LORD'S side, let him come unto me.' And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

    And he said unto them: 'Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.'

    And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses; and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

    And Moses said: 'Consecrate yourselves to-day to the LORD, for every man hath been against his son and against his brother; that He may also bestow upon you a blessing this day.'

    And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people: 'Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up unto the LORD, peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin.'

    And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said: 'Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them a god of gold.

    Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin —; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.'

    And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book.

    And now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee; behold, Mine angel shall go before thee; nevertheless in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.'

    And the LORD smote the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

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Contradictions (2)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • Is dancing a sin?
  • To kill or not to kill

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Cross-references (393)

  • Psalms 69:28 (vv32–33) Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
  • Romans 9:3 (vv30, 32) For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh
  • Acts 7:40 (v1) saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has…
  • Philippians 4:3 (vv32–33) Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow…
  • Revelation 21:27 (v32) There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the…
Show all 100 cross-references
  • Deuteronomy 9:14 (vv10, 32) Leave me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under the sky; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater…
  • Daniel 12:1 (v32) “At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such…
  • Jonah 3:10 (v14) God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do…
  • Revelation 3:5 (v32) He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name…
  • Deuteronomy 29:20 (vv32–33) Yahweh will not pardon him, but then Yahweh’s anger and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this…
  • Numbers 14:12 (v10) I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
  • Deuteronomy 9:9 (v1) When I had gone up onto the mountain to receive the stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant which Yahweh made with you, then I…
  • Ezekiel 18:4 (v33) Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die.
  • Numbers 14:13-16 (v12) Moses said to Yahweh, “Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them. They will tell it to…
  • Nehemiah 9:18 (v4) Yes, when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awful…
  • Psalms 56:8 (v32) You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?
  • Psalms 139:16 (v32) Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
  • Acts 7:51 (v9) “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:7 (v6) Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
  • Hebrews 6:13 (v13) For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
  • Psalms 106:45 (vv12, 14) He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
  • Genesis 12:7 (v13) Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.
  • Genesis 22:16 (v13) and said, “ ‘I have sworn by myself,’ says Yahweh, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
  • Leviticus 23:30 (v33) Whoever does any kind of work in that same day, I will destroy that person from among his people.
  • Numbers 14:19 (v32) Please pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your loving kindness, and just as you have forgiven this people,…
  • Deuteronomy 25:19 (v32) Therefore it shall be, when Yahweh your God has given you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land which Yahweh your God gives…
  • Isaiah 48:4 (v9) Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow bronze;
  • Jeremiah 26:13 (v14) Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has…
  • Revelation 17:8 (v32) The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth…
  • Revelation 20:12 (v33) I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of…
  • Exodus 32:11 (vv1, 7, 10, 19) Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of…
  • Exodus 24:18 (vv1, 15) Moses entered into the middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
  • Deuteronomy 9:16 (vv4, 8) I looked, and behold, you had sinned against Yahweh your God. You had made yourselves a molded calf. You had quickly turned away from the…
  • 1 Kings 12:28 (vv4, 8) So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold…
  • Acts 7:41 (vv4, 35) They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.
  • Numbers 25:5 (v27) Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor.”
  • Deuteronomy 9:13 (v9) Furthermore Yahweh spoke to me, saying, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
  • Deuteronomy 9:19 (v10) For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which Yahweh was angry against you to destroy you. But Yahweh listened to me that…
  • 2 Kings 9:32 (v26) He lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
  • Psalms 9:5 (v33) You have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
  • Matthew 24:48 (v1) But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’
  • 2 Peter 3:4 (v1) and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the…
  • Exodus 32:8 (vv4, 23) They have turned away quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and have worshiped it, and…
  • Exodus 33:3 (vv1, 9) Go to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.”
  • Deuteronomy 9:15 (vv15–16) So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. The two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.
  • Genesis 15:5 (v13) Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So…
  • Genesis 15:18 (v13) In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great…
  • Exodus 23:20 (v34) “Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
  • Exodus 32:10 (v32) Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”
  • Exodus 33:5 (v9) Yahweh had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I…
  • Exodus 34:9 (v9) He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go among us, even though this is a stiff-necked people; pardon…
  • Deuteronomy 9:11-12 (v1) It came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights that Yahweh gave me the two stone tablets, even the tablets of the covenant.…
  • Deuteronomy 9:18-20 (v11) I fell down before Yahweh, as at the first, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which…
  • Deuteronomy 9:28 (v12) lest the land you brought us out from say, ‘Because Yahweh was not able to bring them into the land which he promised to them, and because…
  • Deuteronomy 32:35 (v34) Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides; for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.”
  • 1 Samuel 12:20 (v30) Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve…
  • Ezekiel 13:9 (v32) “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who utter lying divinations. They will not be in the council of my people,…
  • Daniel 9:18-19 (v32) My God, turn your ear, and hear. Open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name; for we do not present…
  • Amos 7:2 (v32) When they finished eating the grass of the land, then I said, “Lord Yahweh, forgive, I beg you! How could Jacob stand? For he is small.”
  • Matthew 12:30 (v26) “He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
  • Luke 23:34 (v32) Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
  • Exodus 32:4 (vv5, 7, 8, 24, 35) He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods,…
  • Exodus 20:23 (vv4, 8, 31) You shall most certainly not make gods of silver or gods of gold for yourselves to be alongside me.
  • Exodus 14:11 (vv1, 22) They said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this…
  • Exodus 31:18 (vv15–16) When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
  • Deuteronomy 31:27 (vv9, 22) For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. How…
  • Acts 17:29 (vv1, 4) Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design…
  • Genesis 15:7 (v13) He said to Abram, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”
  • Genesis 35:11-12 (v13) God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out…
  • Exodus 13:21 (v1) Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that…
  • Exodus 20:3-4 (v8) “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens…
  • Exodus 22:24 (v10) and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
  • Numbers 16:45-48 (v10) “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces. Moses said to Aaron, “Take your…
  • Numbers 25:2 (v6) for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods.
  • Numbers 25:11-13 (v29) “Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous…
  • Numbers 25:13 (v30) It shall be to him, and to his offspring after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and made…
  • Deuteronomy 4:15-18 (v1) Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire, lest you corrupt…
  • Deuteronomy 9:16-17 (v19) I looked, and behold, you had sinned against Yahweh your God. You had made yourselves a molded calf. You had quickly turned away from the…
  • 1 Chronicles 21:15 (v14) God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he relented of the disaster, and said to the…
  • 2 Chronicles 30:8 (v9) Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified…
  • Isaiah 44:9-10 (v4) Everyone who makes a carved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that…
  • Isaiah 47:3 (v25) Your nakedness will be uncovered. Yes, your shame will be seen. I will take vengeance, and will spare no one.”
  • Exodus 33:14-15 (vv1, 34) He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Moses said to him, “If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us…
  • Numbers 16:22 (vv10–11) They fell on their faces, and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the…
  • Genesis 48:16 (v13) the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and…
  • Exodus 12:35-36 (v2) The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and…
  • Exodus 16:3 (v1) and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by Yahweh’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots,…
  • Exodus 20:3-5 (v1) “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens…
  • Exodus 24:13 (v17) Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto God’s Mountain.
  • Exodus 32:7 (v1) Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, who you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!
  • Exodus 32:14 (v12) So Yahweh turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people.
  • Leviticus 26:42 (v13) then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land.
  • Numbers 14:19-20 (v10) Please pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your loving kindness, and just as you have forgiven this people,…
  • Deuteronomy 7:8 (v13) but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a…
  • Deuteronomy 9:6 (v9) Know therefore that Yahweh your God doesn’t give you this good land to possess for your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
  • Deuteronomy 9:21 (v20) I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as…
  • Deuteronomy 9:24 (v22) You have been rebellious against Yahweh from the day that I knew you.
  • Deuteronomy 9:26-29 (v11) I prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Lord Yahweh, don’t destroy your people and your inheritance that you have redeemed through your greatness,…
  • Joshua 5:13 (v26) When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand.…
  • Joshua 7:9 (v12) For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What…

100 distinct cross-references across this passage (393 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (29 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16, 20, 25, 27, 29, 32, 33, 35 The root of Idolatry is, when men think that…

The root of Idolatry is, when men think that God is not at hand, except they see him carnally.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv1–35 Exo 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35 Moses had now been in the mount for near…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On vv1, 7, 15, 21, 30 While Moses was in the mount, receiving the law…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 And Aaron said unto them,.... Perceiving that they were…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 Here is,
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 The Israelites, finding that Moses delayed his return, desire
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34 Exo 32:1. The people — That is, some of…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv1, 7 In all probability these three chapters originally formed a…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35 Delayed. They waited perhaps about a month, with some…
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures 1864 · Public Domain On v1 The legislation as modified by the lapse of the…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 35 Aaron said, . . . Break off . .…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35 WORSHIP OF THE GOLDEN CALF, Exo_32:1-6.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 1. delayed] Heb. caused shame (i.e. disappointment): the same…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 (1) When the people saw that Moses delayed to…
C. H. Mackintosh 1880 · Public Domain On v1 Exodus 32
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 Vers. 1-6. THE IDOLATRY OF THE GOLDEN CALF. During…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv1, 11, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31 Up, make us gods.
The Expositor's Bible 1887 · Public Domain On v1 Exodus 32
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On vv1, 7, 15, 21, 25, 30 Exo_32:1. Zeh Mosheh häish = this Moses the man].…
The Sermon Bible 1900 · Public Domain On v1 I. The very essence of idolatry is not spiritual…
F. W. Grant 1903 · Public Domain On v1 Subdivision 2. (Exo 32:1-35; Exo 33:1-23; Exo 34:1-35.)
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On vv1, 15, 30 Exo 32:1 - - Exo 32:8; Exo 32:30 -…
J. R. Dummelow 1909 · Public Domain On v1 The Idolatry of the People
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv1, 10, 12, 14, 16, 30, 34 tables of stone
Arno C. Gaebelein 1922 · Public Domain On v1 4. Israel ‘s Sin and Rebellion
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv1, 7, 15, 25, 30 The Golden Calf
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 28, 30, 33 the people saw
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 30, 32, 33, 34 32:1-35 At the foot of Mount Sinai, after Moses…
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