Exodus 32:32

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Now, if you will just forgive their sin! But if you won't, then, I beg you, blot me out of your book which you have written!"

Berean Standard Bible:

Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

American Standard Version:

Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Yet now, if thou wilt forgive{H5375} their sin{H2403}--; and if not, blot{H4229} me, I pray thee, out of thy book{H5612} which thou hast written{H3789}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Psalms 69:28

  • Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Romans 9:3

  • For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Revelation 21:27

  • And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Philippians 4:3

  • And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellowlabourers, whose names [are] in the book of life.

Daniel 12:1

  • ¶ And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Revelation 3:5

  • He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Psalms 139:16

  • Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

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Commentary for Exodus 32:32

1. **Themes:**
- **Intercession:** Moses pleads with God on behalf of the Israelites, demonstrating his role as a mediator between God and His people.
- **Self-sacrifice:** Moses is willing to be erased from God's book—a metaphor for divine remembrance—if it means saving the nation from destruction.
- **Divine Justice and Mercy:** The verse reflects the tension between God's justice, which would condemn the people for their sin, and His mercy, which can forgive.
- **The Book of Life:** The concept of a divine record of the righteous appears, which is a recurring theme in biblical literature.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Golden Calf Incident:** Exodus 32:32 occurs shortly after the Israelites, led by Aaron, created and worshiped a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. This act of idolatry was a direct violation of the first commandment.
- **Mosaic Intervention:** Upon witnessing the people's apostasy, Moses intercedes with God to mitigate His wrath. This event highlights Moses' unique relationship with God and his commitment to the people he leads.
- **The Covenant:** The Israelites were in a covenantal relationship with God, which included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Moses' intercession is part of the larger narrative of maintaining this covenant despite the people's unfaithfulness.
- **The Exodus Era:** Historically, this event takes place during the period following the Israelites' escape from Egypt, as they journey through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. It reflects the formative stages of Israel's national identity and religious practices.

In summary, Exodus 32:32 encapsulates the themes of intercession, self-sacrifice, and the balance between divine justice and mercy, set against the backdrop of the Israelites' foundational relationship with God during their wilderness journey. Moses' plea underscores the depth of his leadership and his dedication to preserving the fledgling nation of Israel.

*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: H5375
    There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָשָׂא
    Transliteration: nâsâʼ
    Pronunciation: naw-saw'
    Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
  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: H4229
    There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָחָה
    Transliteration: mâchâh
    Pronunciation: maw-khaw'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or make fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to; abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, [idiom] utterly, wipe (away, out).
  4. Strong's Number: H5612
    There are 174 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: סֵפֶר
    Transliteration: çêpher
    Pronunciation: say'-fer
    Description: or (feminine) סִפְרָה; (Psalm 56:8 (אֲבֵדָה)), from סָפַר; properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book; bill, book, evidence, [idiom] learn(-ed) (-ing), letter, register, scroll.
  5. Strong's Number: H3789
    There are 212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כָּתַב
    Transliteration: kâthab
    Pronunciation: kaw-thab'
    Description: a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe); describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).