King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Moshe said to Aharon, "What did these people do to you to make you lead them into such a terrible sin?"
Berean Standard Bible:
“What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?”
American Standard Version:
And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Moses{H4872} said{H559} unto Aaron{H175}, What did{H6213} this people{H5971} unto thee, that thou hast brought{H935} so great{H1419} a sin{H2401} upon them?
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 20:9
- Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
Joshua 7:19
- And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide [it] not from me.
Joshua 7:26
- And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
2 Kings 21:9
- But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.
2 Kings 21:11
- Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, [and] hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which [were] before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:
1 Kings 14:16
- And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.
Deuteronomy 13:6
- ¶ If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which [is] as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
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Commentary for Exodus 32:21
Exodus 32:21 is set within the broader context of the Israelites' worship of a golden calf while Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God. This event occurs after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and while they are encamped at the foot of the mountain. In this verse, Moses confronts his brother Aaron, who had been left in charge during Moses' absence.
The themes present in this verse include idolatry, leadership, and accountability. The Israelites, growing impatient with Moses' prolonged absence, urge Aaron to make them gods to lead them. Aaron succumbs to the people's demands and fashions a golden calf, an idolatrous act strictly forbidden by God. When Moses returns and sees the people's revelry, he turns to Aaron for an explanation. Moses' question to Aaron, "What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?" reflects his astonishment and dismay at the betrayal of God's commands and highlights the gravity of the sin committed.
This verse underscores the challenges of leadership and the temptation to yield to the will of the people rather than adhering to divine directives. It also touches on the theme of divine justice and the consequences of disobedience, as the subsequent narrative reveals the severe repercussions for the idolatrous act. Aaron's role in the creation of the golden calf is particularly significant, as it demonstrates the fallibility of even the most esteemed leaders when they fail to stand firm in their faith and convictions. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry and the importance of steadfast leadership in the face of communal pressure.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H175
There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
Pronunciation: a-har-one'
Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron. - 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. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H1419
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדוֹל
Transliteration: gâdôwl
Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. - Strong's Number: H2401
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲטָאָה
Transliteration: chăṭâʼâh
Pronunciation: khat-aw-aw'
Description: feminine of חֵטְא; an offence, or a sacrifice forit; sin (offering).