Exodus 32:1

Translations

Modern

Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, 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!”

Traditional

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.

Literal

And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people gathered together against Aaron and they said to him, “Arise, make for us gods who will go before our faces. For this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

Latin

Videns autem populus quod moram faceret descendendi de monte Moyses, congregatus adversus Aaron, dixit: Surge, fac nobis deos, qui nos præcedant: Moysi enim huic viro, qui nos eduxit de terra Ægypti, ignoramus quid acciderit.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, 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!”

Notes

Exodus 32:1

The Israelites acted out of fear, disrespect for Moses, disbelief in God's leadership, and denial of responsibility. They did not want to wait for God to show his care for them. Not waiting for God often leads to sin (see 1 Samuel 13:7–13; Isaiah 30:15–18).

Exodus 32:1–6

The people were not willing to wait and see what God had been saying to Moses on the mountain for the 40 days while he was there (see 24:18).

Exodus 32:1–35

Moses had been gone for many days. While waiting at the bottom of Mount Sinai, the people wanted protection, guidance, and a way to show their worship. God understood this and wanted to help them (see chapters 25–31). But the Israelites tried to meet their needs on their own. Fellowship with God requires relying on him (see John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 3:5).

Theme notes and profiles

Aaron Moses Anger Dealing with Conflict God’s Faithfulness to His People Pure Worship Temple Design as a Picture of God's Truth The Bronze Snake The Plagues

Events

Tabernacle Builtc. 1490 BC

Related verses

Acts 7:40
They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’
Deuteronomy 9:9
When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water.
2 Peter 3:4
“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
Matthew 24:48
But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’
Exodus 24:18
Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Deuteronomy 9:11–12
And at the end of forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.
Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
Exodus 14:11
They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
Deuteronomy 4:15–18
So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful
Exodus 33:14–15
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Acts 19:26
And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.

Parallels

Deuteronomy 9:7–29 Acts 7:39–43

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Cattle Deuteronomy, Book of Gods and Goddesses Golden Calf History of Israel Idols, Idolatry Levi (Person) Leviticus, Book of Tabernacle

Topics

Aaron: Makes the Golden Calf Apostasy: Israelites Backsliders: Israel's Backsliding: when Aaron Made the Golden Calf Calf of Gold was Made: To Go Before the Congregation Calf of Gold: Made on Account of the Delay of Moses in the Mount Calf: Golden, Made by Aaron Falsehood: Aaron, in Attempting to Shift Responsibility for the Making of the Golden Calf Idolatry: Israel Idolatry: The Jews: Often Mixed Up, with God's Worship Israel: Idolatry of Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Golden Calf Made Revelation: The Law is Revealed Trouble: when Moses Waited Upon the Mountain

Exodus 32:1

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?

People

Places

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics