Exodus 32:21

Exodus 32:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
• New International Version (NIV)He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”

Context of Exodus 32:21

19As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain. 20He took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water. Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?” 22“Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil. 23They said to me, ‘Make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt — we don’t know what has happened to him!’

Exodus 32:21 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן מֶֽה־עָשָׂ֥ה לְךָ֖ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־הֵבֵ֥אתָ עָלָ֖יו חֲטָאָ֥ה גְדֹלָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
• What didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• this peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• unto thee, that thou hast broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• so greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• a sinחֲטָאָהchăţâ'âh · sinH2401

Cross-references for Exodus 32:21

• Genesis 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, “What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”
• Genesis 26:10Then Abimelech said, “What have you done to us? One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.”
• Deuteronomy 13:6“If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let’s go and worship other gods’ — which neither you nor your ancestors have known,
• 1 Samuel 26:19Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have banished me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go and worship other gods.’
• Joshua 7:19So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and make a confession to him. I urge you, tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.”
• 1 Kings 14:16He will give up Israel because of Jeroboam’s sins that he committed and caused Israel to commit.”
• 1 Kings 21:22I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have angered me and caused Israel to sin.’
• 2 Kings 21:9But they did not listen; Manasseh caused them to stray so that they did worse evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

Commentaries on Exodus 32:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21What did this people unto thee - It seems if Aaron had been firm, this evil might have been prevented.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-35Verses 7-35 The faithfulness of Moses in the office that had been entrusted to him was now to be put to the test. It was to be made manifest whether he loved his own glory better than he loved the brethren who were under his charge; whether he would prefer that he should himself become the founder of a “great nation,” or that the Lord‘s promise should be fulfilled in the whole people of Israel. This may have been especially needful for Moses, in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 Never did any wise man make a more frivolous and foolish excuse than that of Aaron. We must never be drawn into sin by any thing man can say or do to us; for men can but tempt us to sin, they cannot force us. The approach of Moses turned the dancing into trembling. They were exposed to shame by their sin. The course Moses took to roll away this reproach, was, not by concealing the sin, or putting any false colour upon it, but by punishing it…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-25Aaron denied responsibility, even though he made the molds and poured the gold (32:4). Aaron wanted Moses to believe it all just happened (32:24). He implied he had no choice because the people were so evil (32:22). Aaron did not fool Moses. Moses knew Aaron could have led the people, but instead, he allowed them to get completely out of control (32:25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-351. when the people saw that Moses delayed--They supposed that he had lost his way in the darkness or perished in the fire. the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron--rather, "against" Aaron in a tumultuous manner, to compel him to do what they wished. The incidents related in this chapter disclose a state of popular sentiment and feeling among the Israelites that stands in singular contrast to the tone of profound and humble reverence they…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 32:21

• Falsehood
• Israel
• Reproof

In the dictionaries

• Aaron
• Moses
• Consume
• Corrupt
• Fashion
• Levite
• Mastery
• Naked
• Play
• Shout

Commentaries on Exodus 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings