Exodus 32:34

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Therefore now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Now go and lead the people to the place I told you about; my angel will go ahead of you. Nevertheless, the time for punishment will come; and then I will punish them for their sin."

Berean Standard Bible:

Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.”

American Standard Version:

And now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine angel shall go before thee; nevertheless in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Therefore now go{H3212}, lead{H5148} the people{H5971} unto the place of which I have spoken{H1696} unto thee: behold, mine Angel{H4397} shall go{H3212} before{H6440} thee: nevertheless in the day{H3117} when I visit{H6485} I will visit{H6485} their sin{H2403} upon them.

Cross-References (KJV):

Deuteronomy 32:35

  • To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Exodus 23:20

  • ¶ Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Matthew 23:35

  • That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Numbers 20:16

  • And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we [are] in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

Isaiah 63:9

  • In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Exodus 3:17

  • And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Romans 2:4

  • Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Exodus 32:34

**Exodus 32:34 Summary:**

**Themes:**
- Divine Justice and Mercy: The verse reflects God's decision to balance mercy with justice. Despite the Israelites' sin of worshiping the golden calf, God does not utterly abandon them. Instead, He promises to send an angel to lead them, indicating His continued guidance and presence. However, the warning of future punishment for their sin underscores the theme of accountability before God.
- Covenant and Faithfulness: This verse is part of the larger narrative of the covenant between God and Israel. God's commitment to lead Israel to the Promised Land, despite their unfaithfulness, demonstrates His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
- Intercession: The context of this verse involves Moses interceding for the people, which is a recurring theme in Exodus. Moses's plea on behalf of the Israelites mitigates God's wrath, showcasing the power of intercessory prayer.

**Historical Context:**
- The Exodus Event: The verse is set within the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. After the Israelites' worship of the golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, God's anger burned against them. This event occurred shortly after the establishment of the Mosaic covenant, which included the moral, ceremonial, and civil laws that would govern the Israelite community.
- The Role of Moses: Moses serves as a mediator between God and the people. His role is crucial in this narrative, as his intercession directly influences God's decision to continue leading the Israelites.
- The Promised Land: The "place" God refers to is the land of Canaan, which He had promised to Abraham's descendants. The journey to this land is a central motif in the Pentateuch, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.

In summary, Exodus 32:34 captures a pivotal moment where God's wrath is tempered by mercy and the promise of divine guidance, despite the people's sinfulness. It emphasizes themes of covenant loyalty, intercession, and the complex interplay between divine justice and mercy within the historical framework of the Israelites' journey to 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: H3212
    There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַךְ
    Transliteration: yâlak
    Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
    Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
  2. Strong's Number: H5148
    There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָחָה
    Transliteration: nâchâh
    Pronunciation: naw-khaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists); bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten.
  3. 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.
  4. Strong's Number: H1696
    There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָבַר
    Transliteration: dâbar
    Pronunciation: daw-bar'
    Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
  5. Strong's Number: H4397
    There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֲלְאָךְ
    Transliteration: mălʼâk
    Pronunciation: mal-awk'
    Description: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher); ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
  6. Strong's Number: H6440
    There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּנִים
    Transliteration: pânîym
    Pronunciation: paw-neem'
    Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
  7. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
  8. Strong's Number: H6485
    There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּקַד
    Transliteration: pâqad
    Pronunciation: paw-kad'
    Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
  9. 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).