Exodus 32:1

ยถ And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

And when the people {H5971} saw {H7200} that Moses {H4872} delayed {H954} to come down {H3381} out of the mount {H2022}, the people {H5971} gathered themselves together {H6950} unto Aaron {H175}, and said {H559} unto him, Up {H6965}, make {H6213} us gods {H430}, which shall go {H3212} before {H6440} us; for as for this Moses {H4872}, the man {H376} that brought {H5927} us up out of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, we wot {H3045} not what is become of him.

When the people saw that Moshe was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aharon and said to him, "Get busy; and make us gods to go ahead of us; because this Moshe, the man that brought us up from the land of Egypt - we don't know what has become of him."

Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, โ€œCome, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!โ€

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.

Commentary

Exodus 32:1 marks a pivotal and tragic moment in the Israelites' journey after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. This verse sets the stage for the infamous incident of the golden calf, revealing the deep-seated spiritual instability and impatience of the people just weeks after entering into a covenant with God at Mount Sinai.

Context

Having been freed from Egyptian bondage through a series of powerful plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites had arrived at Mount Sinai. There, God had revealed His Law, including the Ten Commandments, to Moses. Moses had ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Law and instructions for the tabernacle, remaining there for forty days and forty nights (Exodus 24:18). The people, left at the base of the mountain, grew restless and impatient with his prolonged absence. They presumed Moses was lost or had abandoned them, forgetting the direct guidance and presence of God that had led them thus far.

Key Themes

  • Impatience and Lack of Faith: The people's immediate demand for "gods" stems from their inability to wait on God's timing and their lack of trust in His unseen leadership. Their faith was dependent on visible signs and human leadership.
  • Idolatry: The core sin is the demand for visible, tangible deities to "go before them." This directly violates the first two commandments given by God: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" and "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" (Exodus 20:3-4).
  • Human Weakness and Forgetfulness: Despite witnessing God's mighty acts in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and their recent pledge of obedience to God's covenant just weeks prior, the people quickly reverted to pagan inclinations common in the ancient Near East.
  • Leadership Pressure: Aaron, as Moses' brother and designated leader in his absence, faces immense pressure from the agitated crowd, ultimately succumbing to their demands.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "gods" is elohim (ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื), which can refer to the one true God or to pagan deities. In this context, the plural form clearly indicates the people's desire for multiple, physical objects of worship, reminiscent of the polytheistic practices they had just left in Egypt.

The phrase "we wot not what is become of him" uses an archaic English verb "wot," meaning "to know." It emphasizes their profound uncertainty and fear regarding Moses' fate.

Significance and Application

Exodus 32:1 serves as a powerful cautionary tale against spiritual impatience and the human tendency to create substitutes for God when His presence or timing is not immediately apparent. It highlights that true faith involves trusting God even when He seems silent or distant, and waiting on His perfect timing. This event underscores the constant temptation to replace a living, invisible God with tangible, controllable "gods" of our own makingโ€”whether they be physical idols, possessions, careers, or even human leaders. This serves as a reminder that the dangers of idolatry persist, urging believers to guard their hearts against anything that takes priority over their relationship with the Almighty God.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 7:40 (12 votes)

    Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for [as for] this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

  • Deuteronomy 9:9 (10 votes)

    When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, [even] the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:

  • Exodus 24:18 (7 votes)

    And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

  • 2 Peter 3:4 (7 votes)

    And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

  • Matthew 24:48 (7 votes)

    But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

  • Deuteronomy 9:11 (6 votes)

    And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, [that] the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, [even] the tables of the covenant.

  • Deuteronomy 9:12 (6 votes)

    And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted [themselves]; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.