Exodus 32:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He received what they gave him, melted it down, and made it into the shape of a calf. They said, "Isra'el! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!"

Berean Standard Bible:

He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

American Standard Version:

And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he received^{H3947} them at their hand^{H3027}, and fashioned^{H6696} it with a graving tool^{H2747}, after he had made^{H6213} it a molten^{H4541} calf^{H5695}: and they said^{H559}, These be thy gods^{H430}, O Israel^{H3478}, which brought^{H5927} thee up out of the land^{H776} of Egypt^{H4714}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Exodus 32:4

Exodus 32:4 is part of the narrative where the Israelites, under the leadership of Aaron, create and worship a golden calf while Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God. This event occurs during the prolonged absence of Moses, which leads to a crisis of faith among the Israelites.

**Themes:**
1. **Idolatry:** The Israelites' creation of the golden calf is a direct violation of the first two commandments, which forbid the worship of other gods and the making of graven images. This act of idolatry underscores the human tendency to revert to tangible representations of the divine, despite being warned against such practices.

2. **Leadership and Responsibility:** Aaron's role in the creation of the calf highlights the impact of leadership on the community. His decision to capitulate to the people's demands for a god they can see reflects the challenges of leading a faith community and the temptation to succumb to the will of the majority rather than adhering to divine instruction.

3. **Covenant and Faithfulness:** The incident of the golden calf tests the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. It raises questions about the people's commitment to their side of the covenant, which requires exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, and foreshadows the recurring theme of covenant unfaithfulness throughout the Old Testament.

4. **Divine Justice and Mercy:** Moses' intercession for the people after the incident, as well as God's decision not to destroy them entirely, illustrates the themes of divine justice tempered with mercy. It also sets a precedent for how God deals with the transgressions of His people.

**Historical Context:**
The historical context of Exodus 32:4 is set within the broader narrative of the Exodus, which is traditionally dated to the late Bronze Age, around the 13th century BCE. The Israelites, having been freed from slavery in Egypt, are in the process of forming their identity as a nation under God's law. The worship of the golden calf can be seen as a reflection of the religious practices of the surrounding ancient Near Eastern cultures, where the worship of bulls and calves was not uncommon. This incident emphasizes the struggle of the Israelites to break away from the religious influences of their past in Egypt and the contemporary polytheistic practices of the region.

In summary, Exodus 32:4 captures a moment of profound spiritual failure within the nascent Israelite community, highlighting themes of idolatry, leadership, covenant faithfulness, and divine justice and mercy, all set against the backdrop of the ancient Near Eastern religious landscape.

*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: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6696
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צוּר
   Transliteration: tsûwr
   Pronunciation: tsoor
   Description: a primitive root; to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile); adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags.
   
4. Strong's Number: H2747
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶרֶט
   Transliteration: chereṭ
   Pronunciation: kheh'-ret
   Description: from a primitive root meaning to engrave; a chisel or graver; also a style forwriting; graving tool, pen.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4541
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַסֵּכָה
   Transliteration: maççêkâh
   Pronunciation: mas-say-kaw'
   Description: from נָסַךְ; properly, a pouring over, i.e. fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e. league; concretely a coverlet (as if poured out); covering, molten (image), vail.
   
7. 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.
   
8. 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.
   
9. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3478
    There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
    Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
    Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
    Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5927
    There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָלָה
    Transliteration: ʻâlâh
    Pronunciation: aw-law'
    Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
    
12. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
    
13. Strong's Number: H4714
    There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
    Transliteration: Mitsrayim
    Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
    Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.