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OET by section EXO 32:1

EXO 32:1–32:35 ©

The gold bull idol

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version 

32:1 The gold bull idol

(Deu. 9:6-29)

32Meanwhile, the people had noticed that Mosheh had been up on the mountain for a long time, so they people gathered themselves around Aharon and told him, “Come on. Make some gods for us that can go ahead of us, because we don’t know what’s happened to that Mosheh—the man[fn] who brought us out of Egypt.”[ref]

2Aharon replied, “Go and get the gold earrings off your wives and your sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” 3So the people took off all their gold earrings and brought them to Aharon, 4and he took them and smelted and crafted the gold into the form of a young bull. Then the people said, “These are your gods,[fn] Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.”[ref]

5When Aharon saw that, he built an altar in front of the bull and announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to honour Yahweh.” 6So they got up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. Then the people sat down to eat and drink, then stood up to make merry.[ref]

7Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Go on down because your people that you brought out of Egypt have gone bad—8they’ve quickly deviated from what I instructed them. They’ve made a metal bull for themselves and have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and they’ve said, ‘Israel, these are your gods that brought you out of Egypt.’ ” 9Then Yahweh said to Mosheh, “I’ve seen this people, and look, they’re so stubborn. 10So leave me alone now and let my anger rage against them. I will destroy them and make you into a great nation.” 11But Mosheh pleaded with his God Yahweh and asked, “Yahweh, why are you angry at your people that you have brought out of Egypt with your incredible power and actions?[ref] 12If you did that, the Egyptians would say, ‘Ha, he brought them out with evil plans to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from off the earth’? Turn from your anger and repent from any idea of doing evil to your people. 13Remember Abraham and Yitshak and Yisra’el—your servants that you swore to them yourself and told them, ‘I will cause your descendants to increase like the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land which I told you about, and they will inherit it forever.’ ”[ref] 14So Yahweh repented from the evil that he’d said he’d do to his people.

15Then Mosheh turned and went down the mountain carrying the two tablets with the transcript. The tablets were engraved on both sides—front and back. 16They were God’s work—it was his writing and he had inscribed it on the tablets. 17As they descended, Yehoshua heard the sounds of people shouting and said to Mosheh, “It sounds like a war going on down there in the camp!” 18But Mosheh responded, “It’s not a victory march, and it’s not moans of defeat—it’s singing that I can hear!” 19Then as they approached the camp, they saw the bull and the dancing, and Mosheh got very angry and threw the tablets down at the bottom of the mountain and they shattered. 20He took the bull they had made and burned it in the fire, then he ground it down until it was powder and sprinkled it on top of pots of water and made the Israelis drink it.

21Then Mosheh demanded from Aharon, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such a terrible sin on them?” 22Aharon responded, “Don’t be angry with me, my master. You know the peoplethey’re intent on evil. 23They insisted, saying, ‘Make a god for us to lead us. As for that Mosheh—the man that brought us out of Egyptwe don’t know what’s happened to him.’ 24So I told them, ‘Anyone who has gold jewelry, take it off yourself,’ and they gave it to me and I threw it into the fire, and this bull came out.”

25Mosheh saw that the people were out of control because Aharon had let them go wild, and now they were subject to mockery from any group that stood up against them. 26Then Mosheh stood at the camp entrance and asked, “Anyone who’s for Yahweh, come to me.” And all the men from the clan of Levi gathered around him. 27Then he told them, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man must strap his sword on his side. Pass through and return from gate to gate in the camp and kill the unfaithful men—even if it’s your brother, or friend, or neighbour.’ ” 28The Levite men did what Mosheh ordered and they killed about three thousand Israeli men that day. 29Then Mosheh told them, “Consecrate yourselves to Yahweh today, because any man who stood against his son or his brother today has placed a blessing on himself.”

30The next day, Mosheh told the people, “You all have committed a terrible sin, but now I will go up to Yahwehperhaps I can atone for your sin.” 31So Mosheh returned to Yahweh and said, “Please, these people have committed a terrible sin and made gods for themselves out of gold. 32But now, maybe you’ll forgive their sin, but if not, please blot me out of your book that you’ve written.”[ref] 33But Yahweh said to Mosheh, “It’s anyone who sinned against me that I’ll blot out of my book. 34So go now and lead the people to where I’ve spoken to you. See, my angel will go ahead of you, but on the day that I settle accounts, then I’ll punish them for their sin.”

35Then Yahweh sent a plague on the people because they had got Aharon to make the gold bull.


32:1 The way that the people speak of Mosheh here suggests that maybe they never really ever regarded him as being one of them—remember, he did grow up in an Egyptian palace.

32:4 After crafting the gold into the form of a young bull (which wasn’t necessarily solid but may have had an internal wooden frame or a clay centre), it’s not clear here why the text refers to plural ‘gods’.


32And_he/it_saw the_people if/because_that he_delayed Mosheh to_come_down from the_mountain and_gathered the_people to ʼAhₐron and_they_said to_him/it arise make to/for_us gods which they_will_go before_face/front_us if/because this Mosheh the_man who brought_up_us from_land of_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) not we_know what has_it_happened to_him/it.
2And_he/it_said to_them ʼAhₐron tear_off the_rings the_gold which in/on/at/with_ears wives_your_all’s sons_your_all’s and_daughters_your_all’s and_bring to_me.
3And_took_off all the_people DOM the_rings the_gold which in/on/at/with_ears_their and_brought to ʼAhₐron.
4And_he/it_took from_hand_their and_he/it_laid_seige DOM_him/it in/on/at/with_tool and_made_it a_calf of_molten_metal and_they_said these gods_your Oh_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) who brought_up_you from_land of_Miʦrayim.
5And_he/it_saw ʼAhₐron and_he/it_built an_altar in_front_it and_he/it_called ʼAhₐron and_said a_festival to/for_YHWH [will_be]_tomorrow.
6And_rose_early on_next_day and_offered burnt_offerings and_presented peace_offerings and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived the_people to_eat and_drink and_rose_up to_revel.
7and_he/it_spoke Yahweh to Mosheh go go_down if/because it_has_behaved_corruptly people_your which you_brought_up from_land of_Miʦrayim.
8They_have_turned_aside quickly from the_way which commanded_them they_have_made to/for_them a_calf of_molten_metal and_worshiped to_him/it and_sacrificed to_him/it and_they_said these gods_your Oh_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) who brought_up_you from_land of_Miʦrayim/(Egypt).
9And_he/it_said Yahweh to Mosheh I_have_seen DOM the_people the_this and_see/lo/see [is]_a_people stiff of_neck it.
10And_now leave_alone to/for_me and_burn anger_my in/among_them and_destroy_them and_make DOM_you to_(a)_nation great.
11And_sought Mosheh DOM the_face of_Yahweh his/its_god and_he/it_said to/for_why Oh_Yahweh does_it_burn anger_your in/on/at/with_people_your which you_brought_out of_land of_Miʦrayim in/on/at/with_power great and_in/on/at/with_hand strong.
12To/for_what will_they_say Miʦrayim to_say in/on/at/with_evil_intent brought_out_them to_kill DOM_them in/on/at/with_mountains and_to_wipe_them from_under the_surface the_soil turn from_fierce anger_your and_relent on the_disaster for_people_your.
13Remember to_ʼAⱱrāhām to_Yiʦḩāq/(Isaac) and_to_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) your_servants whom you_swore to/for_them on/over_you(fs) and_said to_them I_will_increase DOM descendants_your_all’s like_stars the_heavens and_all the_earth/land the_this which I_have_promised I_will_give to_descendants_your_all’s and_inherit to_vanishing_point.
14And_he/it_sighed/regretted Yahweh on the_disaster which he_had_spoken for_doing on_people_his.
15and_turned and_he/it_descended Mosheh from the_mountain and_two the_tablets the_transcript in_his/its_hand tablets written on_both sides_their on_one_side and_on_the_other they [were]_written.
16And_the_tablets [were]_the_work of_god they and_the_writing [was]_the_writing of_god it engraved on the_tablets.
17And_he/it_listened Yəhōshūˊa DOM the_sound the_people in/on/at/with_shouted_they[fn] and_he/it_said to Mosheh a_sound of_battle in/on/at/with_camp.
[fn] 18and_he/it_said [it_is]_not a_sound of_singing of_strength and_not a_sound of_singing of_weakness a_sound of_singing I [am]_hearing.
19And_he/it_was just_as he_drew_near to the_camp and_he/it_saw DOM the_calf and_dancing and_it_glowed/burned the_anger of_Mosheh and_threw from_hands_his[fn] DOM the_tablets and_broke DOM_them under the_mountain.
20And_he/it_took DOM the_calf which they_had_made and_burned in/on/at/with_fire and_ground until that it_was_fine and_scattered on the_surface the_waters and_drink DOM the_people of_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).
21And_he/it_said Mosheh to ʼAhₐron what did_it_do to/for_yourself(m) the_people the_this (cmp) you_have_brought on/upon/above_him/it a_sin great.
22And_he/it_said ʼAhₐron not let_it_burn the_anger my_master you you_know DOM the_people if/because_that in/on/at/with_evil it.
23And_they_said to_me make to/for_us gods which they_will_go before_face/front_us if/because this Mosheh the_man who brought_up_us from_land of_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) not we_know what has_it_happened to_him/it.
24And_said to/for_them has_whoever gold tear_[it]_off_from_yourselves and_gave to_me and_threw_it in/on/at/with_fire and_he/it_went_out the_calf the_this.
25And_he/it_saw Mosheh DOM the_people if/because_that [was]_running_wild it if/because get_out_of_control_them ʼAhₐron to_laughingstock in/on/at/with_enemies_their.
26And_stood Mosheh in/on/at/with_entrance the_camp and_he/it_said who to/for_YHWH to_me and_gathered to_him/it all the_descendants of_Lēvīh.
27And_he/it_said to/for_them thus he_says Yahweh the_god of_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) put everyone sword_his on side_his pass and_go_forth from_gate to_gate in/on/at/with_camp and_kill everyone DOM his/its_woman and_each DOM his/its_neighbour and_each DOM neighbor_his.
28And_did the_descendants of_Lēvīh as_commanded of_Mosheh and_fell of the_people in_the_day (the)_that about_three thousand(s) person[s].
29And_he/it_said Mosheh fill hand_of_you_all the_day to/for_YHWH if/because everyone in/on/at/with_son_his and_in/on/at/with_brother_his and_in_order_that_brought on_you_all the_day a_blessing.
30And_he/it_was on_next_day and_he/it_said Mosheh to the_people you_all you_all_have_sinned a_sin great and_now I_will_go_up to Yahweh perhaps I_will_atone for sin_your_all’s.
31And_returned Mosheh to Yahweh and_said please it_has_sinned the_people the_this a_sin great and_made to/for_them gods of_gold.
32And_now if you_will_forgive sin_their and_if not blot_out_me please from_book_your which you_have_written.
33And_he/it_said Yahweh to Mosheh who [is_the_one]_who he_has_sinned to_me blot_out_him of_book_my.
34And_now go lead DOM the_people to where I_have_spoken to/for_you(fs) there angel_my he_will_go to_your_face and_in/on/at/with_day punish_I and_punish upon_them sin_their.
35And_sent_a_plague Yahweh DOM the_people on that they_had_made DOM the_calf which he_had_made ʼAhₐron.

32:17 Note: We have abandoned or added a ketib/qere relative to BHS. In doing this we agree with L against BHS.

32:17 Note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

32:19 Variant note: מ/יד/ו: (x-qere) ’מִ/יָּדָי/ו֙’: lemma_m/3027 n_0.1.0 morph_HR/Ncbdc/Sp3ms id_02Qza מִ/יָּדָי/ו֙

EXO 32:1–32:35 ©

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