Exodus 32:10

KJV

Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now therefore let me alone {H3240}, that my wrath {H639} may wax hot {H2734} against them, and that I may consume {H3615} them: and I will make {H6213} of thee a great {H1419} nation {H1471}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now leave me alone, so that my anger can blaze against them, and I can put an end to them! I will make a great nation out of you instead."

Berean Standard Bible

Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

American Standard Version

now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 32:10 captures a pivotal and dramatic moment in Israel's wilderness journey, immediately following their egregious sin of worshipping the golden calf. God, observing their swift apostasy after receiving His covenant at Sinai, expresses His righteous indignation to Moses. He declares His intent to unleash His burning wrath, utterly consume the unfaithful nation, and then, strikingly, offers to establish a new, great nation through Moses, thereby testing Moses' character, leadership, and compassion for the very people who had so grievously offended God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the narrative of the golden calf incident, a profound crisis of faith and obedience for the newly formed nation of Israel. Moses has been on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights, receiving the Law and detailed instructions for the tabernacle from God ([Exodus 24:18](/exodus/24-18 "Exodus 24:18 - Moses on Sinai")). Meanwhile, down in the camp, the impatient Israelites, fearing Moses' prolonged absence, coerce Aaron into making a golden calf, which they then worship, proclaiming, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" ([Exodus 32:1-6](/exodus/32-1 "Exodus 32:1-6 - The Golden Calf")). God, seeing this rebellion, informs Moses of their swift corruption and declares His intention to destroy them ([Exodus 32:7-9](/exodus/32-7 "Exodus 32:7-9 - God's Anger at Israel")). Exodus 32:10, therefore, is God's direct pronouncement of judgment and His surprising proposal to Moses, setting the stage for Moses' profound intercession in the subsequent verses ([Exodus 32:11-14](/exodus/32-11 "Exodus 32:11-14 - Moses' Intercession")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites had just been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt ([Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - Crossing the Red Sea")) and had entered into a covenant relationship with Yahweh at Mount Sinai ([Exodus 19-24](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19-24 - The Sinai Covenant")). Central to this covenant were the Ten Commandments, particularly the prohibitions against having other gods and making graven images ([Exodus 20:3-6](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3-6 - The First Commandments")). Their act of idolatry with the golden calf was not merely a lapse but a direct, egregious violation of the very first stipulations of the covenant they had just solemnly affirmed. This was an act of profound ingratitude and rebellion against the God who had just demonstrated His power and faithfulness. In the ancient Near East, a god's wrath was often depicted as a consuming fire, and the destruction of a rebellious people was a common consequence in suzerainty treaties when vassals violated their oaths. God's offer to make a "great nation" of Moses echoes the foundational promise made to Abraham, the patriarch of Israel ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - The Abrahamic Covenant")), highlighting a potential restart of the covenant line through a new, faithful progenitor.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Alone (Hebrew, _raphah'_):** This word, often translated as "let go," "relax," or "cease," here carries the nuance of "leave me unhindered" or "refrain from intervening." It implies that Moses was already, perhaps instinctively, in a posture of intercession or was about to be. God's command to "let me alone" is, paradoxically, an invitation for Moses to do the opposite – to stand in the gap and intercede, testing his resolve and compassion for the very people who had so grievously sinned.
* **Wax hot (Hebrew, _charah'_):** This term vividly describes God's intense, burning anger or indignation. It conveys a righteous fury, a fiery displeasure that is a just response to the profound betrayal and idolatry of His chosen people. It is not a capricious human emotion but a holy reaction to sin that violates His nature and covenant.
* **Consume (Hebrew, _kalah'_):** This word signifies complete destruction, annihilation, or bringing to an end. It underscores the severity of God's judgment, indicating that the consequence of Israel's sin was, from a divine perspective, merited and could lead to their utter obliteration as a distinct people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now therefore let me alone,"**: This opening phrase is a divine command, yet it functions as an implicit invitation to Moses to intercede. God, in His sovereignty, could have acted immediately, but He pauses, drawing Moses into the decision-making process. This tests Moses' leadership and compassion, pushing him to either agree with God's judgment or to plead for his people.
* **"that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them:"**: This clause reveals the immediate and severe consequence of Israel's idolatry. God's holy character demands a response to such blatant sin. His "wrath" is not arbitrary but a just, burning indignation against covenant-breaking and the worship of false gods, which threatened the very foundation of His relationship with Israel. The word "consume" emphasizes the totality of the potential judgment.
* **"and I will make of thee a great nation."**: This striking offer presents a radical alternative. God proposes to bypass the rebellious nation and restart His covenant promises through Moses, echoing the original call to Abraham ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - The Abrahamic Covenant")). This proposition serves as a profound test for Moses, challenging his personal ambition against his calling as a shepherd of God's people. It highlights God's sovereignty and His ability to fulfill His promises through alternative means, even in the face of human failure.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 32:10 employs several potent literary devices. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the description of God's "wrath may wax hot," attributing a human emotion (anger, burning) to the divine to convey the intensity of His righteous displeasure. This helps the reader grasp the severity of Israel's sin from God's perspective. The entire statement also functions as a **Test or Trial** for Moses. God's command to "let me alone" is a rhetorical device, paradoxically inviting Moses to intercede, thereby revealing Moses' true character and his commitment to the people. Furthermore, there is an element of **Hyperbole** in God's stated intent to "consume them" and "make of thee a great nation." While God's wrath is real and just, the absolute destruction of Israel would have contradicted His prior covenant promises, suggesting that this declaration, though serious, also served to provoke Moses' intercession and demonstrate the gravity of their sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 32:10 is a profound theological statement on God's holiness, His just wrath against sin, and His sovereign freedom, even as it sets the stage for the crucial theme of intercession. God's declaration reveals that His covenant relationship with Israel is conditional upon their obedience, and their idolatry has justly provoked His righteous indignation. Yet, His invitation to Moses to "let me alone" underscores His desire for a mediator, highlighting that even in judgment, God provides a path for mercy through intercession. This passage powerfully demonstrates that God is not bound by human failure but can fulfill His promises through new means, while also revealing His willingness to relent in the face of humble, covenant-based prayer.

* [Exodus 32:11-14](/exodus/32-11 "Moses' Intercession for Israel")
* [Numbers 14:18-20](/numbers/14-18 "God's Mercy and Forgiveness")
* [Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2 "The Abrahamic Covenant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 32:10 serves as a stark reminder of the profound seriousness of idolatry and unfaithfulness in the eyes of a holy God. It challenges us to examine what "golden calves" we might be fashioning in our own lives – anything that usurps God's rightful place of ultimate devotion, whether it be wealth, career, relationships, comfort, or even religious ritual without true heart devotion. The passage also powerfully highlights the critical role of intercessory prayer. Moses' willingness to stand in the gap, appealing to God's character and promises, changed the course of history for an entire nation. For believers today, this calls us to a similar posture of humble, fervent intercession for our families, communities, and nations, particularly when we witness spiritual apathy or rebellion. It reminds us that God, though just in His wrath, is also merciful and responsive to the prayers of His people, often extending grace where only judgment seems due.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "idols" or misplaced allegiances might be provoking God's displeasure in my own life or in my community?**
* **How does God's statement "let me alone" paradoxically invite me to a deeper level of intercessory prayer for those who are spiritually adrift?**
* **In what ways does this passage affirm both God's righteous judgment and His profound mercy, and how does that shape my understanding of His character?**

### FAQ

**Was God truly going to destroy the Israelites, or was this a test for Moses?**

Answer: This question touches on the nature of divine communication and God's sovereignty. While God's wrath was undoubtedly real and justly provoked by Israel's egregious idolatry, His declaration in [Exodus 32:10](/exodus/32-10 "Exodus 32:10 - God's Wrath and Offer to Moses") also functioned as a profound test and invitation to Moses. God, being omniscient, knew Moses would intercede. Therefore, it was both a genuine expression of His righteous anger and a strategic move to elicit Moses' intercession, demonstrating the power of prayer and Moses' role as a mediator. God's willingness to "relent" after Moses' prayer ([Exodus 32:14](/exodus/32-14 "Exodus 32:14 - God Relents")) confirms that His ultimate purpose was not necessarily the complete annihilation of the nation, but to highlight the gravity of their sin and the necessity of a mediator.

**Why did God offer to make a "great nation" of Moses instead of just destroying Israel?**

Answer: God's offer to make a "great nation" of Moses ([Exodus 32:10](/exodus/32-10 "Exodus 32:10 - God's Offer to Moses")) serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it echoes and reaffirms God's foundational covenant promise to Abraham ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - The Abrahamic Covenant")), demonstrating that God's plan for a chosen people would not be thwarted by human sin; He could simply restart it through a faithful individual. Secondly, it was a profound test of Moses' character. It challenged Moses' personal ambition against his calling to lead and care for the very people who had so deeply offended God. Moses' rejection of this offer and his subsequent intercession for Israel underscore his selfless leadership and deep love for his people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 32:10, with its portrayal of divine wrath, human rebellion, and the need for a mediator, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ. The burning wrath of God against sin, so vividly expressed here, finds its ultimate satisfaction not in the destruction of humanity, but in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the full weight of God's righteous indignation on the cross ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant")). Moreover, Moses' intercession, though powerful, was imperfect and temporary. Christ, however, is our perfect and eternal High Priest and Intercessor, who "always lives to intercede for them" ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ Our High Priest")). He does not merely appeal to God's character but presents His own shed blood as the basis for mercy and forgiveness. The offer to make a "great nation" from Moses points to the new spiritual nation, the church, which is formed not from physical descent but from all who are united to Christ by faith ([1 Peter 2:9-10](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9-10 - A Chosen People")). In Christ, God's covenant promises are fulfilled, not by starting over with a new patriarch, but by establishing a new covenant in His blood, securing a people for Himself who will never be "consumed" by divine wrath, but eternally redeemed and reconciled ([Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 9:14

Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.

Numbers 14:12

I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

Deuteronomy 9:19

For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.

Numbers 16:45

Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

Numbers 16:48

And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Numbers 16:22

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Exodus 22:24

And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.