Exodus 32:24
New International Version
So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

New Living Translation
So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!”

English Standard Version
So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

Berean Standard Bible
So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let him take it off,’ and they gave it to me. And when I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

King James Bible
And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

New King James Version
And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

New American Standard Bible
So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ Then they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

NASB 1995
“I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

NASB 1977
“And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

Amplified Bible
I said to them, ‘Let whoever has gold [jewelry], take it off.’ So they gave it to me; then I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

Christian Standard Bible
So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

American Standard Version
And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off: so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

Contemporary English Version
Then I asked them to bring me their gold earrings. They took them off and gave them to me. I threw the gold into a fire, and out came this bull.

English Revised Version
And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off; so they gave it me: and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So I told them to take off any gold they were wearing. They gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!"

Good News Translation
I asked them to bring me their gold ornaments, and those who had any took them off and gave them to me. I threw the ornaments into the fire and out came this bull-calf!"

International Standard Version
So I told them, 'Whoever has gold ornaments, tear them off.' When they gave it to me, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

Majority Standard Bible
So I said to them, ?Whoever has gold, let him take it off,? and they gave it to me. And when I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!?

NET Bible
So I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out."

New Heart English Bible
I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them take it off:' so they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

Webster's Bible Translation
And I said to them, Whoever hath any gold, let them break it off: So they gave it to me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

World English Bible
I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them take it off.’ So they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and I say to them, Whoever has gold, let them break [it] off, and they give [it] to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf comes out.”

Young's Literal Translation
and I say to them, Whoso hath gold, let them break it off, and they give to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf cometh out.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And I said to them, To whom is gold, he shall break it off. And they will give it to me, and I shall cast it into the fire and this calf will come out.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said to them: Which of you hath any gold? and they took and brought it to me: and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I said to them, ‘Which of you has gold?’ And they took it and gave it to me. And I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

New American Bible
So I told them, ‘Whoever is wearing gold, take it off.’ They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

New Revised Standard Version
So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off’; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I said to them, Whosoever has any gold bring it to me. So they brought it to me; then I cast it into the fire, and it became this calf.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they said to me, ‘Make for us gods to go before us, because this Moshe who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what happened to him.’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I said unto them: Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off; so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said to them, If any one has golden ornaments, take them off; and they gave them me, and I cast them into the fire, and there came out this calf.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Breaks the Tablets
23They told me, ‘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!’ 24So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let him take it off,’ and they gave it to me. And when I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!” 25Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 9:16-21
And I saw how you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you. / So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, shattering them before your eyes. / Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger. ...

Acts 7:39-41
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. / They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ / At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

Nehemiah 9:18
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,

Psalm 106:19-23
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. / They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. / They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt, ...

1 Corinthians 10:7
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”

Hosea 8:4-6
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

2 Kings 17:16-17
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Isaiah 44:9-20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

2 Chronicles 11:15
And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

Jeremiah 10:3-5
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.


Treasury of Scripture

And I said to them, Whoever has any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

so they

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.

Genesis 3:12,13
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat…

Luke 10:29
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

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Break Broke Calf Cast Fire Gold Image Jewelry Ox Tear Threw
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Break Broke Calf Cast Fire Gold Image Jewelry Ox Tear Threw
Exodus 32
1. The people in the absence of Moses, caused Aaron to make a calf
7. God informs Moses, who intercedes for Israel, and prevails
15. Moses comes down with the tablets
19. He breaks them
20. He destroys the calf
22. Aaron's excuse for himself
25. Moses causes the idolaters to be slain
30. He prays for the people














So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let him take it off,’
This phrase reflects Aaron's instruction to the Israelites to remove their gold jewelry. The context is the impatience of the Israelites as they awaited Moses' return from Mount Sinai. Gold was a common possession among the Israelites, likely acquired from the Egyptians during the Exodus (Exodus 12:35-36). The act of removing gold signifies a willingness to part with valuable possessions for idolatrous purposes, highlighting the ease with which the Israelites turned from God’s commandments. This moment foreshadows the later struggles of Israel with idolatry, as seen in 1 Kings 12:28-30 with Jeroboam's golden calves.

and they gave it to me.
The people’s compliance with Aaron’s request indicates their collective participation in the sin of idolatry. This act of giving their gold can be seen as a communal rejection of the covenant they had just entered into with God (Exodus 24:3-8). It underscores the theme of human weakness and the tendency to revert to familiar practices, such as idol worship, which was prevalent in Egypt. This collective action contrasts with the individual accountability emphasized in later scriptures, such as Ezekiel 18:20.

And when I threw it into the fire,
Aaron’s description of the process is an attempt to minimize his responsibility, suggesting a passive role in the creation of the idol. The act of throwing gold into the fire is reminiscent of purification processes, yet here it results in corruption rather than sanctification. Fire in biblical terms often symbolizes judgment or purification (Malachi 3:2-3), but in this instance, it becomes a tool for idolatry. This misuse of fire contrasts with its intended purpose in the sacrificial system established by God.

out came this calf!”
The emergence of the calf is presented by Aaron as almost accidental, yet it was a deliberate act of crafting an idol (Exodus 32:4). The calf, or young bull, was a common symbol of strength and fertility in ancient Near Eastern cultures, particularly in Egypt, where the Apis bull was worshipped. This choice of idol reflects the Israelites' regression to familiar pagan symbols. The golden calf incident serves as a type of Christ in reverse; while Christ is the true image of God (Colossians 1:15), the calf is a false representation, leading the people away from true worship. This event is a stark reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the need for steadfastness in faith, as later emphasized in 1 Corinthians 10:7.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the high priest of Israel. In this passage, Aaron is responsible for the creation of the golden calf, which he claims was a result of the people's demands.

2. Moses
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Moses is a central figure in the surrounding account. He is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments while the events of this verse unfold.

3. The Israelites
The people of Israel, who have been led out of Egypt by Moses. They become impatient waiting for Moses and demand an idol to worship.

4. The Golden Calf
An idol made by Aaron from the gold of the Israelites. It represents a significant act of disobedience and idolatry against God.

5. Mount Sinai
The mountain where Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God. It is a place of divine revelation and covenant.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Impatience
Impatience can lead to poor decisions and disobedience. The Israelites' impatience led them to demand an idol, showing how waiting on God's timing is crucial.

Leadership Accountability
Aaron's failure to stand firm against the people's demands highlights the importance of strong, godly leadership. Leaders must remain steadfast in their convictions, even under pressure.

The Deceptive Nature of Sin
Aaron's explanation that the calf "came out" of the fire minimizes his responsibility. Sin often involves self-deception and rationalization, which we must guard against.

The Importance of Repentance
The incident underscores the need for genuine repentance. Acknowledging our sins and turning back to God is essential for restoration.

The Consequences of Idolatry
Idolatry leads to separation from God and can have severe consequences. We must examine our lives for modern forms of idolatry and remove them.Verse 24. - There came out this calf. Aaron speaks as if he had prepared no mould, but simply thrown the gold into the hot furnace, from which there issued forth, to his surprise, the golden calf. This was not only a suppressio veri, but a suggestio falsi. Having no even plausible defence to make, he is driven to the weakest of subterfuges.

CHAPTER 32:25-29

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So I said
וָאֹמַ֤ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to them,
לָהֶם֙ (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

‘Whoever
לְמִ֣י (lə·mî)
Preposition-l | Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

has gold,
זָהָ֔ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

let him take it off,’
הִתְפָּרָ֖קוּ (hiṯ·pā·rā·qū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6561: To break off, crunch, to deliver

and they gave it
וַיִּתְּנוּ־ (way·yit·tə·nū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to me.
לִ֑י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

And when I cast it
וָאַשְׁלִכֵ֣הוּ (wā·’aš·li·ḵê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

into the fire,
בָאֵ֔שׁ (ḇā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

out came
וַיֵּצֵ֖א (way·yê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

this
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

calf!”
הָעֵ֥גֶל (hā·‘ê·ḡel)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5695: A, calf, one nearly grown


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OT Law: Exodus 32:24 I said to them 'Whoever has any (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 32:23
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