Exodus 32:3

Translations

Modern

Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.

Traditional

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

Literal

And all the people broke off the golden rings that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.

Latin

Fecitque populus quæ jusserat, deferens inaures ad Aaron.

Original

Hebrew

English

Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.

Notes

Exodus 32:2–4

Aaron, who served as a priest (religious leader), asked the people to bring gold rings. After that, he did not allow them to take part in the work.

This was very different from what God commanded for building the tabernacle. In that case, the people were invited to bring many kinds of offerings as they were willing (25:1–9; 35:4–36:7).

They also shared in the work under the direction of a skilled worker whom God filled with his Spirit, not under a priest acting alone (31:1–6; 36:1–2).

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

Isaiah 46:6
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
Judges 17:3–4
And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.”
Jeremiah 10:9
Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz—the work of a craftsman from the hands of a goldsmith. Their clothes are blue and purple, all fashioned by skilled workers.
Isaiah 40:19–20
To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?

Parallels

Deuteronomy 9:7–29 Acts 7:39–43

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel

Glossary

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

Topics

Calf of Gold was Made of the Ornaments of the Women Ear-Ring: Offering of for the Golden Calf Falsehood: Aaron, in Attempting to Shift Responsibility for the Making of the Golden Calf Feasts: Men and Women Attend Gold: Fusible Idol: Made of Gold Idolatry: The Jews: Often Mixed Up, with God's Worship Offense: Aaron Wearing Earrings

Exodus 32:3

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