Focused Passage

Exodus 32:21-24

The Golden Calf: Covenant Rebellion, Intercession, Judgment, and Mercy

The chapter moves from Israel’s demand for a visible god, to Aaron’s making of the golden calf, to idolatrous worship and revelry, to the LORD’s declaration of Israel’s corruption, to Moses’ intercession, to Moses’ descent and shattering of the tablets, to judgment in the camp, to Moses’ second intercession, and finally to the LORD’s warning that sin will be punished even as Israel continues forward.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21“What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?”

22“Do not be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.

23They told me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!’

24So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let him take it off,’ and they gave it to me. And when I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Cross-references

Ephesians 4:26Classic cross-references Genesis 20:9Classic cross-references Joshua 7:19Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 13:8-14OliveGrove study links 1 Samuel 15:13-24OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 9:20OliveGrove study links

Original words

Whatמֶֽה־H4100Interrogativedid thisהַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularpeopleהָעָ֣םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singulardoעָשָׂ֥הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youלְךָ֖Preposition | second person masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֶֽל־H413Prepositionaskedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAaronאַהֲרֹ֔ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou have led themהֵבֵ֥אתָH935Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularintoעָלָ֖יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularso greatגְדֹלָֽה׃H1419Adjective - feminine singulara sinחֲטָאָ֥הH2401Noun - feminine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Proverbs 29:25Classic cross-references Genesis 44:18Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 9:24Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 15:15Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 15:21Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 13:8-14OliveGrove study links 1 Samuel 15:13-24OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 9:20OliveGrove study links

Original words

Do notאַל־H408Adverbbe enragedיִ֥חַרH2734Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular. . .אַ֖ףH639Noun - masculine singular constructmy lordאֲדֹנִ֑יH113Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularAaronאַהֲרֹ֔ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularrepliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularYouאַתָּה֙H859Pronoun - second person masculine singularyourself knowיָדַ֣עְתָּH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthat the peopleהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .כִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionare intent on evilבְרָ֖עH7451Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular. . .הֽוּא׃H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Exodus 20:4Classic cross-references Acts 7:40Classic cross-references Exodus 32:1Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 13:8-14OliveGrove study links 1 Samuel 15:13-24OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 9:20OliveGrove study links

Original words

They toldוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralmeלִ֔יPreposition | first person common singularMakeעֲשֵׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularusלָ֣נוּPreposition | first person common pluralgodsאֱלֹהִ֔יםH430Noun - masculine pluralwhoאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativewill goיֵלְכ֖וּH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralbefore usלְפָנֵ֑ינוּH6440Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralAs forכִּי־H3588Conjunctionthisזֶ֣ה׀H2088Pronoun - masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁ֣הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular-הָאִ֗ישׁH376Article | Noun - masculine singularwhoאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativebrought us upהֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙H5927Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common pluralout of the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singularwe do notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleknowיָדַ֖עְנוּH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralwhatמֶה־H4100Interrogativehas happenedהָ֥יָהH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto himלֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 24

Cross-references

Exodus 32:4Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 13:8-14OliveGrove study links 1 Samuel 15:13-24OliveGrove study links Deuteronomy 9:20OliveGrove study links

Original words

So I saidוָאֹמַ֤רH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularto themלָהֶם֙Preposition | third person masculine pluralWhoeverלְמִ֣יH4310Preposition-l | Interrogativehas goldזָהָ֔בH2091Noun - masculine singularlet him take it offהִתְפָּרָ֖קוּH6561Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine pluraland they gave itוַיִּתְּנוּ־H5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralto meלִ֑יPreposition | first person common singularAnd when I threw itוָאַשְׁלִכֵ֣הוּH7993Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularinto the fireבָאֵ֔שׁH784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularout cameוַיֵּצֵ֖אH3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthisהַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularcalfהָעֵ֥גֶלH5695Article | Noun - masculine singular

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