Exodus 32:1-10

The Golden Calf

1 Now when the people saw that Moses ¹delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, ²make us a god who will go before us; as for ³this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him."

2 Aaron said to them, "⁴Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me."

3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.

4 He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a ⁵molten calf; and they said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."

5 Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD."

6 So the next day they rose early and ⁶offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and ⁷the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up ⁸to play.

7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go down * at once, for your people, whom ⁹you brought up from the land of Egypt, have ¹⁰corrupted themselves.

8 "They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. ¹¹They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and ¹²have sacrificed to it and said, '¹³This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!' "

9 ¹⁴The LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, they are ¹⁵an obstinate * people.

10 "Now then ¹⁶let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and ¹⁷I will make of you a great nation."

Exodus 32:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 32

This chapter gives an account of the idolatry of the Israelites making and worshipping a golden calf, Ex 32:1-6 the information of it God gave to Moses, bidding him at the same time not to make any suit in their favour, that he might consume them, and make a large nation out Moses's family, Ex 32:7-10 the intercession of Moses for them, in which he succeeded, Ex 32:11-14 his descent from the mount with the two tables in his hands, accompanied by Joshua, when he was an eyewitness of their idolatry, which raised his indignation, that he cast the two tables out of his hands and broke them, took the calf and burnt it, and ground it to powder, and made the children of Israel drink of it, Ex 32:15-20 the examination of Aaron about the fact, who excused himself, Ex 32:21-24 the orders given to the Levites, who joined themselves to Moses, to slay every man his brother, which they did to the number of 3000 men, Ex 32:25-29 another intercession for them by Moses, which gained a respite of them for a time, for they are threatened to be visited still for their sin, and they were plagued for it, Ex 32:30-35.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 24:18; Deuteronomy 9:11, 12
• 2. Acts 7:40
• 3. Exodus 14:11
• 4. Exodus 35:22
• 5. Deuteronomy 9:16; Nehemiah 9:18; Psalms 106:19; Acts 7:41
• 6. Acts 7:41
• 7. 1 Corinthians 10:7
• 8. Exodus 32:17-19; Numbers 25:2
• 9. Exodus 32:4, 11; Deuteronomy 9:12
• 10. Genesis 6:11
• 11. Ex 20:3, 4, 23
• 12. Exodus 22:20; Exodus 34:15; Deuteronomy 32:17
• 13. 1 Kings 12:28
• 14. Numbers 14:11-20
• 15. Exodus 33:3, 5; Exodus 34:9; Isaiah 48:4; Acts 7:51
• 16. Deuteronomy 9:14
• 17. Numbers 14:12

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "gods"
• [b]. Or "These are your gods"
• [c]. Lit "go down"
• [d]. Or "These are your gods"
• [e]. Or "a stiff-necked"