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.

They have turned {H5493} aside quickly {H4118} out of the way {H1870} which I commanded {H6680} them: they have made {H6213} them a molten {H4541} calf {H5695}, and have worshipped {H7812} it, and have sacrificed {H2076} thereunto, and said {H559}, These be thy gods {H430}, O Israel {H3478}, which have brought thee up {H5927} out of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}.

So quickly they have turned aside from the way I ordered them to follow! They have cast a metal statue of a calf, worshipped it, sacrificed to it and said, 'Isra'el! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!'"

How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”

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 unto it, and said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Commentary

Exodus 32:8 describes a pivotal and tragic moment in Israel's early history after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. It captures God's immediate and heartbroken assessment of their rebellion while Moses was still on Mount Sinai receiving the Law.

Context

This verse occurs while Moses is on Mount Sinai, spending forty days and forty nights with God, receiving the divine commandments and instructions for the tabernacle. Down in the camp, the people grew impatient with Moses' prolonged absence. Under pressure, Aaron succumbed to their demands and fashioned a "molten calf" from their gold ornaments (Exodus 32:1-4). This act was a direct and egregious violation of the first two commandments God had just given them: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" and "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" (Exodus 20:3-4).

Key Themes

  • Rapid Apostasy and Disobedience: The phrase "turned aside quickly" highlights the swiftness with which Israel abandoned the God who had just performed incredible miracles for them. Their impatience led to a profound act of unfaithfulness.
  • Blatant Idolatry: The creation and worship of the "molten calf" represents a complete rejection of the invisible, transcendent God of Israel in favor of a tangible, man-made deity, a common practice in surrounding pagan cultures.
  • Misplaced Worship and Attribution: The people's declaration, "These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt," is a shocking act of blasphemy. They attributed God's mighty act of deliverance to an inanimate idol, demonstrating a profound spiritual blindness and ingratitude.
  • Covenant Breaking: This incident was a severe breach of the covenant established at Sinai, provoking God's righteous anger and prompting Moses' urgent intercession (Exodus 32:9-10).

Linguistic Insights

The term "molten calf" translates from the Hebrew 'egel massekah, referring to an idol cast from metal. Calves or bulls were widely used as symbols of strength and fertility in ancient Near Eastern religions (e.g., Canaanite Baal worship). The Israelites' adoption of such an image, even while claiming it represented the God who brought them out of Egypt, demonstrates a dangerous syncretism. The plural "gods" (Hebrew: elohim) used by the people further underscores their departure from the monotheistic worship of Yahweh.

Practical Application

Exodus 32:8 serves as a timeless warning:

  • Beware of Impatience and Unbelief: When God's timing doesn't align with ours, or when we face uncertainty, there's a temptation to seek tangible, immediate answers or to turn to things we can control, much like Israel did.
  • Identify Modern Idols: While we may not worship golden statues, anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts—whether it's wealth, career, relationships, comfort, or self-image—can become a modern "molten calf." We must constantly examine our allegiances.
  • Remember God's Faithfulness: The Israelites forgot God's miraculous deliverance. We too must intentionally remember and recount God's past faithfulness in our lives to strengthen our trust and prevent our hearts from turning aside. This principle is echoed in Deuteronomy 6:12.
  • The Seriousness of Disobedience: This verse highlights how quickly and severely disobedience can corrupt a community and break covenant with God. It underscores the importance of unwavering devotion to the one true God.
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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

  • Exodus 20:23

    Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

  • 1 Kings 12:28

    Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

  • Exodus 20:3

    Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

  • Exodus 20:4

    Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:

  • Deuteronomy 9:16

    And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, [and] had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.

  • Exodus 22:20

    He that sacrificeth unto [any] god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

  • Judges 2:17

    And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; [but] they did not so.