Exodus 32:34

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.

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.

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."

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.”

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.

Commentary

Exodus 32:34 stands as a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel’s journey through the wilderness, immediately following the catastrophic incident of the golden calf. This verse reveals God’s complex response to the people’s egregious sin, balancing His unwavering purpose with His righteous judgment.

Context

This verse is uttered by God to Moses after the Israelites had committed idolatry by worshipping a golden calf while Moses was receiving the Law on Mount Sinai. God's initial wrath was fierce, threatening to destroy the entire nation (Exodus 32:10). However, Moses’ fervent intercession averted immediate annihilation. Exodus 32:34 marks a crucial turning point, where God reaffirms His commitment to lead Israel toward the Promised Land, yet with a sobering caveat regarding their sin.

Key Themes

  • Divine Faithfulness Amidst Rebellion: Despite Israel’s profound unfaithfulness, God does not abandon His covenant promise to lead them to the land He swore to their fathers. His purpose for them remains, demonstrating His enduring faithfulness.
  • God's Promised Presence and Guidance: The assurance, "mine Angel shall go before thee," highlights God's commitment to guide and protect His people. This "Angel" (Hebrew: mal'akh) often signifies a special divine messenger or even a manifestation of God Himself, ensuring His active involvement in their journey.
  • Delayed but Certain Justice: The phrase "nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them" underscores the principle of divine justice. While immediate destruction was withheld, the consequences of their idolatry were not erased. God, in His perfect timing, would hold them accountable for their actions. This principle reminds us that sin always carries a cost, even if mercy postpones immediate retribution.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "visit" (פָּקַד, paqad) used twice in the latter part of the verse, is significant. It carries a broad range of meanings including to attend to, inspect, appoint, or punish. In this context, it clearly implies a punitive visitation, signifying that God would remember their sin and bring judgment upon them at a later, appropriate time. This isn't a casual visit but an inspection with the intent of reckoning.

Practical Application

Exodus 32:34 offers profound lessons for believers today. It teaches us about God’s patience and His unwavering commitment to His purposes, even when His people fail Him. We are reminded that while God is merciful and gracious, He is also just. Our sins, though forgiven through Christ, still have natural consequences and God's holiness demands that sin be addressed. This verse encourages us to value God's presence and guidance in our lives, and to live in a manner that honors His enduring faithfulness, knowing that true repentance leads to restoration, but accountability remains a part of God's righteous character. Just as God continued to lead Israel, He continues to lead us, expecting obedience while extending grace.

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

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 32:35 (6 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    ¶ 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 (3 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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