Exodus 32:12

Translations

Modern

Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people.

Traditional

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.

Literal

Why should Egypt speak, saying, ‘In evil He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and relent over the evil against Your people.

Latin

Ne quæso dicant Ægyptii: Callide eduxit eos, ut interficeret in montibus, et deleret e terra: quiescat ira tua, et esto placabilis super nequitia populi tui.

Original

Hebrew

English

Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people.

Notes

Exodus 32:11–13

If there was a test, Moses passed it. He refused to take God's place (32:11). He knew God is just and faithful and would not save people just to destroy them (32:12). He declined the offer to become the father of a great nation because it would mean God violating promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (32:13). Moses understood who God truly is.

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 Change of Mind Pure Worship Temple Design as a Picture of God's Truth The Bronze Snake The Plagues

Events

Tabernacle Builtc. 1490 BC

Related verses

Numbers 14:13–16
But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought this people from among them.
Deuteronomy 9:28
Otherwise, those in the land from which You brought us out will say, ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land He had promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’
Joshua 7:9
When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”
Exodus 32:14
So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.
Psalm 78:38
And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.
Amos 7:6
So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 20:9
But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Jonah 3:9
Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
Joshua 7:26
And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
Ezra 10:14
Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”
Zechariah 8:14
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Just as I resolved to bring disaster upon you when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the LORD of Hosts,
Ezekiel 20:14
But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Parallels

Deuteronomy 9:7–29 Acts 7:39–43

Places

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Answers To Prayer: Moses Calf of Gold: Moses Interceded for Those Who Worshipped Falsehood: Aaron, in Attempting to Shift Responsibility for the Making of the Golden Calf Intercession of Man with God Intercession: Answered: After the Israelites had Made the Golden Calf Intercessory Prayer: Moses Israel: The Anger of the Lord in Consequence Judgments: Saints: Pray for Those Under Prayer: Pleas offered In

Exodus 32:12

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