Deuteronomy 9:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I took your sin, the calf you had made, and burned it up in the fire, beat it to pieces, and ground it up still smaller, until it was as fine as dust; then I threw its dust into the stream coming down from the mountain.

Berean Standard Bible:

And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain.

American Standard Version:

And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And I took^{H3947} your sin^{H2403}, the calf^{H5695} which ye had made^{H6213}, and burnt^{H8313} it with fire^{H784}, and stamped^{H3807} it, and ground^{H2912} it very small^{H3190}, even until it was as small^{H1854} as dust^{H6083}: and I cast^{H7993} the dust^{H6083} thereof into the brook^{H5158} that descended out^{H3381} of the mount^{H2022}.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 9:21

Deuteronomy 9:21 is part of a speech by Moses to the Israelites, recounting the incident of the golden calf. This event occurred during the prolonged absence of Moses when he went up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from God. In Moses' absence, the people, led by Aaron, created and worshiped a golden calf as an idol. This act was a direct violation of the first two commandments, which forbid the worship of other gods and the making of idols.

**Themes:**
1. **Idolatry and Apostasy:** The golden calf incident is a stark warning against idolatry and the dangers of turning away from the worship of the one true God to false idols.
2. **Repentance and Intercession:** Moses' actions, including his intercession for the people and his destruction of the idol, illustrate the themes of repentance and the role of a mediator in restoring the relationship between God and His people.
3. **God's Justice and Mercy:** The narrative also highlights the tension between God's justice, which demands punishment for sin, and His mercy, which offers forgiveness and restoration.
4. **Covenant Renewal:** The incident sets the stage for a renewal of the covenant between God and Israel, as Moses prepares the people to enter the Promised Land.

**Historical Context:**
The book of Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches by Moses to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The book serves as a restatement of the law for a new generation and emphasizes the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant.

The specific context of Deuteronomy 9:21 is Moses' recalling of the events at Mount Sinai, which occurred approximately 40 years prior to these speeches. The golden calf incident is a pivotal moment in the history of Israel, testing their loyalty to God and His commandments. Moses' destruction of the calf by burning, grinding it to dust, and scattering it in the brook symbolizes a complete repudiation of idolatry and a call to the Israelites to remain faithful to God.

In summary, Deuteronomy 9:21 encapsulates the gravity of idolatry, the necessity of repentance, and the possibility of divine mercy, all within the broader context of Israel's covenantal relationship with God as they stood on the threshold of a new era in the Promised Land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2403
   There are 272 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַטָּאָה
   Transliteration: chaṭṭâʼâh
   Pronunciation: khat-taw-aw'
   Description: or חַטָּאת; from חָטָא; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender; punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
   
3. Strong's Number: H5695
   There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵגֶל
   Transliteration: ʻêgel
   Pronunciation: ay-ghel
   Description: from the same as עָגֹל; a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially one nearly grown (i.e. a steer); bullock, calf.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8313
   There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂרַף
   Transliteration: sâraph
   Pronunciation: saw-raf'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire; (cause to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, [idiom] utterly.
   
6. Strong's Number: H784
   There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼêsh
   Pronunciation: aysh
   Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3807
   There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּתַת
   Transliteration: kâthath
   Pronunciation: kaw-thath'
   Description: a primitive root; to bruise or violently strike; beat (down, to pieces), break in pieces, crushed, destroy, discomfit, smite, stamp. l
   
8. Strong's Number: H2912
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָחַן
   Transliteration: ṭâchan
   Pronunciation: taw-khan'
   Description: a primitive root; to grind meal; hence, to be aconcubine (that being their employment); grind(-er).
   
9. Strong's Number: H3190
   There are 102 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָטַב
   Transliteration: yâṭab
   Pronunciation: yaw-tab'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right); be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, [phrase] be content, diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good(-ness), be (make) merry, please ([phrase] well), shew more (kindness), skilfully, [idiom] very small, surely, make sweet, thoroughly, tire, trim, very, be (can, deal, entreat, go, have) well (said, seen).
   
10. Strong's Number: H1854
    There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּקַק
    Transliteration: dâqaq
    Pronunciation: daw-kak'
    Description: a primitive root (compare הָדַךְlemma הָדךְ missing vowel, corrected to הָדַךְ); to crush (or intransitively) crumble; beat in pieces (small), bruise, make dust, (into) [idiom] powder, (be, very) small, stamp (small).
    
11. Strong's Number: H6083
    There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָפָר
    Transliteration: ʻâphâr
    Pronunciation: aw-fawr'
    Description: from עָפַר; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud; ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.
    
12. Strong's Number: H7993
    There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁלַךְ
    Transliteration: shâlak
    Pronunciation: shaw-lak
    Description: a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.
    
13. Strong's Number: H5158
    There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נַחַל
    Transliteration: nachal
    Pronunciation: nakh'-al
    Description: or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley.
    
14. Strong's Number: H3381
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָרַד
    Transliteration: yârad
    Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
    Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
    
15. Strong's Number: H2022
    There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הַר
    Transliteration: har
    Pronunciation: har
    Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion.