Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This [is] thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
Yea, when they had made {H6213} them a molten {H4541} calf {H5695}, and said {H559}, This is thy God {H430} that brought thee up {H5927} out of Egypt {H4714}, and had wrought {H6213} great {H1419} provocations {H5007};
Even when they cast themselves a metal calf, saying of it, "This is your god that brought you up from Egypt,"and committing other gross provocations;
Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies,
Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
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Psalms 106:19
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. -
Psalms 106:23
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them]. -
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. -
Deuteronomy 9:12
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. -
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 32:31
And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
Nehemiah 9:18 is part of a powerful prayer of confession and historical review offered by the Levites during a solemn assembly in Jerusalem. This prayer recounts God's unfailing faithfulness to Israel, even in the face of their repeated disobedience and rebellion.
Context of Nehemiah 9:18
Chapter 9 of Nehemiah details a comprehensive historical recap of God's dealings with Israel, from Abraham to their return from exile. This verse falls within the section recounting the wilderness wanderings, specifically highlighting the egregious sin of making the molten calf at Mount Sinai. The people had just witnessed God's mighty deliverance from Egypt and received His law, yet they quickly turned to idolatry. The Levites' prayer acknowledges this profound betrayal, setting the stage for their confession of national sin and their plea for God's continued mercy, as seen in Nehemiah 9:17.
Meaning and Significance
This verse succinctly captures a moment of profound spiritual failure in Israel's history. Despite God having just delivered them with mighty signs and wonders, the people quickly forgot His power and presence, creating an idol to represent the very God who brought them out of bondage.
The Molten Calf Incident
The phrase "when they had made them a molten calf" refers directly to the infamous event described in Exodus 32. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites, growing impatient, compelled Aaron to fashion an idol. Their declaration, "This [is] thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt," is a blasphemous substitution, attributing God's redemptive power to a lifeless image. This act violated the first two commandments received directly from God, emphasizing the depth of their rebellion against the One who declared, "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."
Great Provocations
The phrase "had wrought great provocations" underscores the severity of their sin. This wasn't a minor transgression but an act of profound rebellion and ingratitude that deeply offended God. It was a direct challenge to His sovereignty and holiness, setting a pattern of disobedience that would plague Israel throughout their history.
Linguistic Insight
The KJV word "provocations" translates the Hebrew term mir'ot (מִרְאֹת), which conveys acts that stir up wrath or anger. It highlights that their actions were not merely mistakes but deliberate offenses designed to provoke God's righteous indignation. This term emphasizes the active and intentional nature of their defiance in the wilderness.
Theological Themes
Practical Application
Nehemiah 9:18 serves as a timeless reminder of the human propensity to forget God's goodness and turn to false securities or idols. For believers today, this can manifest not only in physical idols but in anything we elevate above God – career, wealth, relationships, or even self-reliance. This verse calls us to: