Exodus 32:23

For they said unto me, 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.

For they said {H559} unto me, Make {H6213} us gods {H430}, which shall go {H3212} before {H6440} us: for as for this Moses {H4872}, the man {H376} that brought us up {H5927} out of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, we wot {H3045} not what is become of him.

So they said to me, '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.'

They told me, โ€˜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€™

For they said unto me, 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 32:23 captures Aaron's defense to Moses regarding the creation of the golden calf, highlighting the people's impatience and their demand for visible gods in Moses' absence.

Context of Exodus 32:23

This verse is spoken by Aaron to Moses after Moses descends from Mount Sinai to find the Israelites worshipping a golden calf. Moses had been on the mountain for forty days and nights, receiving the Ten Commandments and instructions from God. The people, growing restless and uncertain of Moses' return, pressured Aaron to "make us gods, which shall go before us." Aaron's words here are an attempt to explain (or excuse) his actions by placing the blame squarely on the people's demands and their fear regarding Moses' prolonged absence.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Impatience and Lack of Faith: The core issue is the people's inability to wait on God and their chosen leader. Their uncertainty about Moses' whereabouts led to a profound lack of trust in God's unseen presence and provision.
  • Pressure and Compromise: Aaron's actions demonstrate the danger of succumbing to popular pressure, even when it directly contradicts divine commands. Despite being a leader, he yielded to the people's demands rather than standing firm in faith.
  • Idolatry: The verse explicitly states their desire for "gods" to "go before us," a clear rejection of the invisible God who had already led them out of Egypt. This act of creating a tangible idol was a direct violation of the second commandment.
  • Leadership Accountability: While Aaron attempts to shift blame, the narrative underscores the responsibility of leaders to guide their flock righteously, even under duress.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Make us gods" uses the Hebrew word elohim (ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื), which can refer to the one true God or to false deities. In this context, it clearly denotes false gods, reflecting the people's desire for a visible, controllable deity. The archaic English phrase "we wot not what is become of him" simply means "we do not know what has happened to him," emphasizing their anxiety and the perceived abandonment by their leader.

Related Scriptures

  • The people's demand and Aaron's compliance are detailed in Exodus 32:1-6.
  • Moses' immediate and powerful intercession for the people can be found in Exodus 32:11-14.
  • This event serves as a strong warning against idolatry, echoed later in the Old Testament, such as in Deuteronomy 6:14, and even referenced in the New Testament by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:7.

Practical Application

Exodus 32:23 offers timeless lessons for believers today. When faced with uncertainty or delayed answers from God, it's easy to grow impatient and seek immediate, tangible solutions that deviate from His will. This verse reminds us to:

  • Cultivate Patience and Trust: Trust in God's timing and His unseen hand, even when circumstances are unclear or leaders seem absent.
  • Resist Peer Pressure: Stand firm against societal or communal pressures that contradict biblical truth. Leaders, especially, must demonstrate unwavering conviction.
  • Beware of Modern Idols: While we may not worship golden calves, anything that takes God's rightful place in our livesโ€”be it wealth, status, comfort, or even human leadersโ€”can become an idol.

The golden calf incident, as explained by Aaron in this verse, serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of spiritual impatience and the human tendency to replace divine guidance with visible, controllable substitutes.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • 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.

  • Exodus 32:4

    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.

  • Exodus 32:8

    They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
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