The Golden Calf
Exodus 32:1-33:6
Exo.32.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- בשש: PREP+NUM,card
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לרדת: VERB,qal,inf
- מן: PREP
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויקהל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- קום: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- לפנינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- כי: CONJ
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידענו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- מה: PRON,int
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.32.4 (verbal): Immediate narrative continuation — Aaron fashions the golden calf after the people demand 'make us gods,' echoing the request and showing the outcome of their impatience with Moses' delay.
- Deut.9:16-18 (allusion): Moses' later retelling of Israel's sin when he delayed on the mountain; explicitly recalls the people's demand for a molten image and Moses' intercession for them.
- Ps.106:19-22 (allusion): Liturgical retelling of the golden calf episode that recalls Israel's demand for a god and the ensuing idolatry, framing the Exodus event the psalm condemns.
- Judg.2:11-13 (thematic): Pattern of Israelite apostasy when founding leaders (Joshua, elders) are gone: the people turn to foreign gods, paralleling the loss of trust and recourse to idols in Exodus 32.
- 1 Sam.8:4-7 (thematic): The people's demand for a visible human ruler 'like other nations' parallels the impulse in Exodus 32 to replace absent/divine leadership with a tangible god or leader.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people assembled against Aaron and said to him: Rise, make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has become of him.
- And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people assembled against Aaron and said to him: Come, make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has become of him.
Exo.32.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- פרקו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- נזמי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- הזהב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- באזני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- נשיכם: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
- בניכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
- ובנתיכם: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
- והביאו: VERB,hiphil,imp,2,m,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Judges 8:24-27 (verbal): Gideon collects gold earrings from the spoils and fashions an ephod that becomes an object of veneration—parallel language and motif of taking personal jewelry to create a cultic object.
- Exodus 35:22 (verbal): Women bring 'golden earrings' as offerings for building the tabernacle; uses similar vocabulary (personal jewelry brought in) but for legitimate cultic construction rather than idolatry.
- 1 Kings 12:28-30 (thematic): Jeroboam makes golden calves for Israel to worship—a later parallel in which rulers produce cultic calf-images from gold, echoing the golden calf episode.
- Psalm 106:19-20 (allusion): The psalm recounts the golden calf incident and Aaron's role, explicitly recalling the Exodus episode and condemning the people's idolatry.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Aaron said to them: Take off the golden rings that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.
- And Aaron said to them: Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.
Exo.32.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתפרקו: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- נזמי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- הזהב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- באזניהם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+3mp
- ויביאו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
Parallels
- Exodus 32:2 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel — Aaron instructs the people to remove their golden earrings, the direct antecedent to v.3’s action.
- Exodus 32:24 (structural): Close narrative follow-up — Aaron says the people gave him the gold and he cast it into the fire, claiming the calf ‘came out’ of the fire; ties the donated earrings to the manufacture of the golden calf.
- Genesis 35:4 (verbal): Uses the same phrase about ‘rings/earrings in their ears’ given up to be hidden or removed; a clear verbal parallel in language and motif of removing personal ornaments.
- Judges 8:24-27 (thematic): Gideon collects gold earrings from the people and fashions an ephod from the spoil; like Exodus, personal jewelry is collected and turned into a cultic object that becomes a snare to Israel.
- Jeremiah 10:3-5 (thematic): Critiques making gods from metal (smithing the idol) and their impotence; thematically parallels the forging/use of the people's gold to create the golden calf.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all the people took off the golden rings that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.
- And all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.
Exo.32.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מידם: PREP
- ויצר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- בחרט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויעשהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עגל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מסכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלוך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 9:16-17 (allusion): Moses recounts the same incident—the people's making of the calf at Horeb—and describes his reaction (breaking the tablets) in response to that idolatry.
- Psalm 106:19-20 (allusion): A liturgical/poetic retelling of the golden calf episode: Israel made a calf and worshiped the idol instead of God, echoing Exodus' narrative and judgment motif.
- 1 Kings 12:28-30 (thematic): Jeroboam fashions two calves and tells Israel 'here are your gods'—an intentional imitation of the Exodus calf motif used to legitimize new cultic centers.
- Acts 7:41 (quotation): Stephen's speech recounts the golden calf: the people made a calf and offered sacrifices, directly referencing the Exodus episode in New Testament testimony.
- Ezekiel 20:7-8 (verbal): God speaks of Israel making a 'molten calf' at Horeb as a covenant-breaking act; Ezekiel echoes the Exodus language to condemn idolatry and recall the breach.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he took from their hands, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf; and they said: These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
- And he took them from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it a calf of cast metal; and they said: These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
Exo.32.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- ויבן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מזבח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חג: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- מחר: ADV
Parallels
- 1 Kings 12:28-30 (verbal): Jeroboam makes two golden calves, sets up shrines and priests, and institutes a festival—closely paralleling Aaron’s erection of an altar before the calf and proclamation of a feast.
- Psalm 106:19-21 (allusion): A poetic retelling of the golden calf incident: the people made a calf, offered sacrifices and rejoiced—directly recalling the actions Aaron sanctioned in Exodus 32.
- Leviticus 23:4 (structural): Lists the appointed feasts ‘to the LORD’; contrasts and illuminates Aaron’s unilateral proclamation of a ‘feast to the LORD’ the next day (Exod. 32:5).
- Judges 18:30 (thematic): The Danites set up a graven image, established a shrine and priesthood—a later instance of creating unauthorized cultic worship and festivals similar to Aaron’s actions.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Aaron saw, and built an altar before it; and Aaron proclaimed and said: A festival to the LORD tomorrow.
- And Aaron saw, and he built an altar before it; and Aaron proclaimed and said: A festival to the LORD tomorrow.
Exo.32.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישכימו: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,pl
- ממחרת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויעלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עלת: VERB,qal,perf,3,_,pl
- ויגשו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- שלמים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לאכל: INF,qal
- ושתו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ויקמו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- לצחק: INF,qal
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 10:7 (quotation): Paul directly cites Exod. 32:6 as a warning: “the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry,” applying the episode to idolatry and licentiousness.
- Acts 7:41 (allusion): Stephen's retelling of the golden‑calf incident: they made a calf, offered sacrifice, and ‘rejoiced in the works of their hands,’ echoing the eating/drinking and revelry of Exod. 32:6.
- Psalm 106:19–22 (thematic): The Psalm recounts the making of the calf, the people’s sacrifice to it and God’s anger — thematically paralleling the idolatrous offering, feasting and subsequent divine judgment in Exod. 32:6.
- Deuteronomy 9:16–21 (structural): Moses’ later retelling of the golden‑calf episode recounts seeing the people’s idolatry and his actions (breaking the tablets, destroying the calf), a structural parallel to the events set in motion by the feast and revelry of Exod. 32:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they rose early on the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to revel.
- And they rose early on the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat to eat and drink, and they rose to revel.
Exo.32.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- רד: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- שחת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עמך: NOUN,m,sg,suff-2m
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלית: VERB,hiph,perf,2,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 9:7 (thematic): Moses recalls the same charge against Israel — that the people provoked the LORD at Horeb — echoing the accusation that the people corrupted themselves.
- Exodus 32:10 (structural): Immediate continuation of the pericope where God threatens to consume the people for their corruption and proposes to make Moses a great nation.
- Numbers 14:11-12 (verbal): God's rebuke (‘How long shall this people provoke me?’) and threat to destroy them parallels the charge that the people have corrupted themselves and provoked divine wrath.
- Psalm 106:19-23 (allusion): A liturgical/poetic retelling of the golden calf episode that recounts Israel's idolatry and Moses' intercession, echoing the corruption mentioned in Exod 32:7.
- Acts 7:40-43 (quotation): Stephen's retelling of the golden calf incident directly quotes and alludes to the Exodus episode, condemning Israel's apostasy and citing prophetic rebuke.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD spoke to Moses: Go, descend, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.
- And the LORD spoke to Moses: Go, descend, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.
Exo.32.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- סרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- מהר: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- הדרך: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- צויתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- עגל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מסכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וישתחוו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ויזבחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלוך: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Deut.9.16 (verbal): Recounts the same event in Moses' retelling — Israel 'made for themselves a molten image' and turned aside from the way God commanded, using similar language to describe the golden calf incident.
- Ps.106.19-20 (verbal): Psalm recalls the golden calf at Horeb and Israel's exchange of God's glory for an image, echoing the motif and specific act of idol worship in Exod 32:8.
- Acts.7.41 (quotation): Stephen's speech cites the golden calf episode, describing the making of the calf and the people offering sacrifice — an explicit New Testament quotation/allusion to Exod 32.
- 1 Cor.10.7 (thematic): Paul warns against idolatry by pointing to Israel's example (the golden calf); he alludes to the Exodus episode as a moral precedent for Christian conduct.
Alternative generated candidates
- They have turned aside quickly from the way that I commanded them; they have made for themselves a molten calf, and have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it, and have said: These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
- They have turned aside quickly from the way that I commanded them; they have made for themselves a calf of cast metal and have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and said: These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
Exo.32.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- והנה: ADV
- עם: PREP
- קשה: ADJ,m,sg
- ערף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 9:6 (verbal): Uses the same characterization — Israel described explicitly as a 'stiff‑necked' people as the reason God does not give the land for their righteousness (direct verbal parallel).
- Deuteronomy 31:27 (verbal): Moses declares he knows Israel's 'rebellion' and their 'stiff neck,' repeating the same motif of stubbornness applied to the nation (verbal/allusive continuity).
- 2 Chronicles 30:8 (verbal): Hezekiah exhorts the people 'not [to be] stiff‑necked, as your fathers were,' echoing the Exodus charge and warning against the same hard‑heartedness (direct verbal echo).
- Isaiah 48:4 (thematic): God laments Israel's obstinacy, using neck imagery ('thy neck is an iron sinew') to portray stubbornness — a thematic development of the 'stiff‑necked' motif.
- Acts 7:51 (quotation): Stephen addresses his Jewish audience as 'stiff‑necked,' applying the Exodus/prophetic indictment of persistent disobedience to his hearers (explicit New Testament citation/application of the motif).
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD said to Moses: I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
- And the LORD said to Moses: I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
Exo.32.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- הניחה: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ויחר: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- אפי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ואכלם: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg+OBJ,3,m,pl
- ואעשה: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- אותך: PRON,2,m,sg
- לגוי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גדול: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deut.9.14 (quotation): Moses later recounts God’s words almost verbatim — the command 'Let me alone… that I may destroy them' and the counter‑promise to make Moses a great nation, echoing Exod 32:10.
- Gen.12.2 (verbal): God’s promise 'I will make thee a great nation' to Abraham parallels the offer in Exod 32:10 to make Moses 'a great nation' as part of the threat to consume Israel.
- Gen.6.7 (thematic): Divine resolve to destroy human beings because of sin ('I will destroy man whom I have created') parallels the threatening language of consuming the people in Exod 32:10.
- Ps.106.23 (allusion): The Psalm recalls Moses’ intercession which turned away God’s wrath and prevented Israel’s destruction, directly reflecting the Exodus scene where God threatens to consume the people.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now, let me alone, that my anger may burn against them and I may consume them, and I will make of you a great nation.
- And now, let me alone, that my anger may burn against them and I may consume them, and I will make you into a great nation.
Exo.32.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויחל: CONJ+VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- למה: ADV
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יחרה: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- אפך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- בעמך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הוצאת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בכח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גדול: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- וביד: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חזקה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deut.9.26-29 (verbal): Moses repeats a similar intercessory plea, invoking the patriarchs and Israel’s Exodus (God ‘brought you out of Egypt’/‘with mighty hand’) to avert divine wrath — language and argument closely parallel Exodus 32:11.
- Num.14.13-20 (thematic): After Israel’s rebellion Moses again pleads with God to relent, appealing to God’s reputation, covenant and mercy to prevent destruction — same intercessory structure and concern as Exodus 32:11.
- Ps.106.23 (allusion): The psalm recounts the golden calf episode and explicitly notes Moses’ prayer that God repent of harming his people, echoing the Exodus account and Moses’ role as mediator.
- 1 Kings.8.46-50 (thematic): Solomon’s temple-prayer asks God to forgive and not destroy Israel when they sin, citing their being brought out of Egypt and appealing for mercy — parallel use of the Exodus deliverance as grounds for intercession.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Moses implored the LORD his God and said: Why, O LORD, should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand?
- But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God and said: Why, O LORD, should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand?
Exo.32.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למה: ADV
- יאמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- ברעה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הוציאם: VERB,hiph,imp,2,m,sg
- להרג: INF,qal
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- בהרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- ולכלתם: CONJ+INF,qal,3,m,pl
- מעל: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- האדמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- שוב: ADV
- מחרון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אפך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- והנחם: CONJ+VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- הרעה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לעמך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss=2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.32.11 (structural): Immediate context: Moses' intercession begins here—appeals to God to turn from anger and not destroy Israel, leading into the explicit argument about what the Egyptians will say in v.12.
- Deut.9.28 (verbal): Moses repeats nearly the same plea to God in his later retelling, using the same concern that the Egyptians will say God brought Israel out to destroy them in the mountains.
- Num.14.13-16 (verbal): In Moses' intercession after the people's rebellion at Kadesh he employs the same argument—appealing to God's reputation so the nations (including Egypt) will not say He intended Israel's destruction.
- Ps.106.23-24 (thematic): A later liturgical retelling of the golden‑calf crisis: the psalm recounts Moses standing in the breach to avert divine wrath and thus preserves the theme of intercession to prevent Israel's destruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, With evil intent he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them from upon the face of the earth? Turn from the heat of your anger, and relent from the disaster against your people.
- Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, With evil intent he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from upon the face of the earth? Turn from your fierce anger and relent of the calamity against your people.
Exo.32.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- זכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאברהם: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ליצחק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולישראל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עבדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,2ms
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נשבעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ותדבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- אלהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ארבה: VERB,hif,impf,1,c,sg,NA
- את: PRT,acc
- זרעכם: NOUN,m,sg+2mp_suff
- ככוכבי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cs
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אמרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg
- אתן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- לזרעכם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg+2mp_suff
- ונחלו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,.,pl
- לעלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.15.5 (verbal): God’s promise that Abram’s offspring will be as numerous as the stars—same simile (seed/descendants like the stars) echoed in Exod 32:13.
- Gen.22.17 (verbal): God’s pledge to multiply Abraham’s descendants like the stars and bless the nations through his seed; repeats promise-language paralleled in Exod 32:13.
- Gen.26.3-4 (verbal): God repeats the covenant to Isaac—land and numerous offspring like the stars—directly corresponding to the covenantal promises recalled in Exod 32:13.
- Gen.28.13-15 (verbal): God’s promise to Jacob of land, descendants, and divine presence (inheritance of the land and multiplied seed), echoing the same covenant motifs invoked in Exod 32:13.
- Heb.6.13-14 (allusion): New Testament reflection on God’s oath to Abraham—‘when God made a promise to Abraham… he swore by himself’—alludes to the divine oath recalled in Exod 32:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by yourself, and to whom you spoke: I will multiply your offspring like the stars of the heavens, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.
- Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by yourself and spoke to them: I will multiply your offspring like the stars of the heavens, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.
Exo.32.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וינחם: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- הרעה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- לעמו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.6.6 (verbal): Uses the same verb (נחם) — God ‘repented’/was sorry he had made humanity before the Flood; parallels the motif of divine regret preceding judgment.
- Jonah.3.10 (verbal): “And God repented of the evil” after Nineveh’s repentance — an explicit instance of God relenting in response to human turning, mirroring Exodus 32’s reversal.
- Num.14.20 (thematic): After Moses’ intercession God declares he has pardoned the people (וַיִּסְלַח) and relents from destroying Israel — thematically parallel: intercession leads to divine forbearance.
- 1 Sam.15.11 (verbal): “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king” (וינחם יהוה) — same language of God’s remorse/relenting when judgment or its object changes, comparable to Exodus 32.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken to do to his people.
- And the LORD relented from the calamity that he had spoken to do to his people.
Exo.32.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויפן: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ושני: CONJ+NUM,card,m,pl
- לחת: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- העדת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- לחת: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כתבים: NOUN,m,pl,const
- משני: PREP+NUM,m,dual
- עבריהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss3,m,pl
- מזה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומזה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- כתבים: NOUN,m,pl,const
Parallels
- Exod.31:18 (verbal): Earliest statement that Moses received 'two tables of testimony, tables of stone' written by the finger of God — very similar language to 32:15.
- Exod.32:19 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Moses descends with the tablets and, seeing the golden calf, throws them down and breaks them (the consequence of 32:15).
- Exod.34:1 (allusion): God commands Moses to 'hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first' — direct follow-up to the loss of the original tablets mentioned in 32:15–19.
- Deut.9:10–17 (thematic): Moses' retrospective account repeats that the LORD gave two stone tablets written by God and narrates Moses' anger and the breaking of the tablets — retelling of the same event and language found in Exodus 32.
- Deut.10:1–5 (quotation): Command to carve new tablets and the account that Moses inscribed on them the words that were on the first tablets — parallels Exodus' description of the tablets and their replacement after the original were broken.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand—tablets written on their two sides; on this side and on that they were written.
- And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the testimony were in his hand, tablets written on both their sides; on this side and on that they were written.
Exo.32.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והלחת: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,def
- מעשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- והמכתב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- מכתב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- חרות: ADJ,m,sg
- על: PREP
- הלחת: NOUN,f,pl,def
Parallels
- Exod.31:18 (verbal): Describes the LORD giving Moses two tablets of stone 'written with the finger of God,' paralleling Exodus 32:16's assertion that the tablets and writing are God's workmanship.
- Exod.34:28 (verbal): After the tablets are replaced, this verse states that Moses wrote on the tablets 'the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments,' echoing the idea of divine inscription on stone tablets.
- Deut.9:10 (verbal): Moses recalls receiving 'two tablets of stone written with the finger of God,' directly echoing the language of divine authorship applied to the tablets in Exodus 32:16.
- Deut.10:4 (allusion): Notes that God 'wrote on the tablets the same words' as on the first tablets Moses broke, alluding to the continuity of God's written law described in Exodus 32:16.
- 2 Cor.3:3 (thematic): Contrasts letters 'written not with ink but with the Spirit' on human hearts with the old covenant 'letters' written on stone, thematically engaging the motif of divine writing introduced in Exodus 32:16.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets.
- And the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
Exo.32.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יהושע: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ברעה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- במחנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 6:16 (verbal): Both passages foreground the people's shout/cry as a public, war‑like sound; Joshua 6:16 links a great shout with military action (the fall of Jericho), echoing Exodus 32:17's identification of loud shouting as 'the sound of war.'
- Judges 7:20–22 (thematic): Gideon's troops use shouting and trumpet blasts to produce panic and rout the enemy; thematically similar to the Exodus scene where loud noise in the camp is interpreted as hostile battle activity.
- Numbers 10:9 (structural): The law prescribes blowing the trumpets as a formal signal when Israel goes to war — a structural/legal parallel explaining why loud sounds in a camp would be understood as 'the sound of war.'
- 1 Samuel 4:5–6 (thematic): In the battle narrative the sound/cry in the camp signals military engagement and calamity; like Exodus 32:17, the report of a great noise is taken as an index of battle and distress among the people.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, and he said to Moses: A sound of war in the camp.
- And Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, and he said to Moses: The sound of war is in the camp.
Exo.32.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אין: PART,neg
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גבורה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חלושה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- שמע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 32:17 (structural): Immediate context: Joshua reports a noise like the sound of battle in the camp; Moses distinguishes between cries of battle/defeat and the sound of singing, which identifies the people's revelry.
- 1 Samuel 18:6-7 (thematic): Women in Israel sing in the streets proclaiming victory for David—uses public singing/noise as a communal expression of triumph, paralleling the motif of loud communal singing heard by Moses.
- Psalm 98:4-6 (thematic): Calls the people to 'make a joyful noise' and to sing praise—parallels the idea of collective singing/noise as the audible form of worship or celebration.
- Isaiah 24:8 (thematic): Speaks of the silencing of tambourines and the cessation of rejoicing in judgment—an antithetical parallel that highlights how singing/noise signals either celebration or divine judgment depending on context.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said: Not the sound of the cry of triumph, and not the sound of the cry of defeat—the sound of singing is what I hear.
- And he said: It is not the sound of the shout of victory, nor is it the sound of the shout of defeat; the sound of singing is what I hear.
Exo.32.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- קרב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ומחלת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויחר: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- אף: ADV
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישלך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מידיו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss3,m
- את: PRT,acc
- הלחת: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- וישבר: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- תחת: PREP
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 31:18 (structural): Describes God giving Moses the two stone tablets on Sinai—the very tablets that Moses later casts down and breaks in Exod 32:19.
- Deuteronomy 9:17 (verbal): Moses' retrospective account uses nearly identical language about taking the two tablets, casting them from his hands, and breaking them—an explicit repetition of Exod 32:19.
- Exodus 34:1 (structural): Narrative sequel: after Moses breaks the first tablets, God commands him to carve two new stone tablets like the first (replacement of the broken tablets).
- Psalm 106:19-23 (thematic): Poetic retelling of the golden calf episode—Israel's idolatry at Horeb and Moses' intervention—echoing the sin and Moses' reaction found in Exod 32:19.
- Acts 7:40-43 (allusion): Stephen's summary of Israel's history recalls the making and worship of the calf and God's response, echoing the Exodus incident and its moral point in the New Testament retelling.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came to pass, when he drew near to the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, that Moses’ anger burned; and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them beneath the mountain.
- And it happened, as he drew near to the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, that Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain.
Exo.32.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- וישרף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויטחן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דק: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויזר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- המים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וישק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deut.9.21 (verbal): Direct retelling of the same action: Moses burns the golden calf, grinds it to powder, scatters it on the water (or throws into the brook) and makes Israel drink — closely parallels Exodus 32:20 wording and motif.
- Ps.106.19-22 (thematic): Psalm recounts the golden calf incident (Israel worshiping the molten image) and God's anger—the same episode of idolatry that Exodus 32:20 responds to, emphasizing communal sin and its consequences.
- Acts 7.40-43 (allusion): Stephen's speech recalls the golden calf episode (they made a calf and worshiped it) as an example of Israel's repeated idolatry, alluding to Moses' drastic response recorded in Exodus.
- 1 Cor.10.7-8 (thematic): Paul cites the golden-calf episode as a warning against idolatry and immoral behavior ('do not be idolaters... nor commit sexual immorality'), using the Exodus incident as moral exemplum for New Testament readers.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it until it was fine and scattered it upon the surface of the water and made the Israelites drink it.
- And he took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it upon the surface of the water, and he made the Israelites drink it.
Exo.32.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- מה: PRON,int
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- הבאת: VERB,hifil,perf,2,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- חטאה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גדלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Deut.9.16-21 (structural): Moses' retelling of the golden-calf episode in his second-address to Israel; recounts the same events and Aaron's role, expanding the narrative behind Exodus 32:21.
- Ps.106.19-23 (thematic): A poetic retelling of the golden-calf incident that condemns Israel's idolatry and praises Moses' intercession—echoes the charge that Aaron's actions brought grievous sin upon the people.
- 1 Kings 12.28-30 (thematic): Jeroboam sets up two golden calves for Israel to worship; thematically parallels Exodus 32 as an instance where a leader institutes images that cause national sin.
- Acts 7.40-43 (allusion): Stephen's speech alludes to the golden-calf event and its consequences (quoting Amos); uses the incident as an example of Israel's rebellion and idolatry, linking back to Aaron's role.
- 1 Cor.10.7-9 (quotation): Paul cites Israel's golden-calf episode as a negative example for Christian behavior (warning against idolatry and related sins), drawing on the same tradition behind Exodus 32:21.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses said to Aaron: What did this people do to you, that you have brought upon it so great a sin?
- And Moses said to Aaron: What did this people do to you, that you have brought upon it so great a sin?
Exo.32.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- אל: NEG
- יחר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אף: ADV
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- ידעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- ברע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deut.9:16-21 (structural): Moses' later retelling of the Sinai incident; repeats the golden-calf episode and Aaron's involvement, providing the same narrative context for Aaron's defense and Moses' intercession.
- Ps.106:19-23 (thematic): Psalmic retelling of the golden calf that highlights Israel's revolt, Aaron's role, and God's anger—echoes the situation Aaron seeks to defuse by blaming the people's tendency to do evil.
- Acts 7:40-43 (allusion): Stephen's speech in the New Testament recalls the golden-calf episode and Israel's apostasy; it alludes to the same event and criticizes Israel's inclination to idolatry that Aaron attributes to the people.
- Gen.6:5 (thematic): Statement about humanity's pervasive inclination to evil ('every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is only evil continually') parallels Aaron's claim that the people are naturally disposed to 'mischief,' which he uses to excuse their behavior.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Aaron said: Let not the anger of my lord burn. You yourself know the people, that they are set on evil.
- And Aaron said: Let not the anger of my lord burn; you know the people, that they are bent on evil.
Exo.32.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לפנינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- כי: CONJ
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלנו: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידענו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- מה: PRON,int
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 9:16 (verbal): Moses' retrospective account of the same golden-calf incident (Israel's idolatry and Moses' reaction), repeating key details of Exodus 32.
- Psalm 106:19-23 (quotation): The psalm recounts and condemns the golden-calf episode, echoing Israel's demand for a visible god and Aaron's role in making the idol.
- Acts 7:39-41 (quotation): Stephen's speech in Acts repeats the golden-calf story (Israel turning away and making an image to worship), using the episode as an example of Israel's unbelief.
- 1 Samuel 8:4-8 (thematic): Israel's request for a human king 'like the nations' parallels the desire for a visible, leading figure/god in Exodus 32—seeking a tangible leader rather than faithfulness to God.
- Judges 2:11-13 (thematic): A recurring pattern of Israel's apostasy and turning to other gods after leaders disappear parallels the motive in Exodus 32 for creating a visible deity to 'go before' them.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they said to me: Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has become of him.
- They said to me, Make for us gods who will go before us, for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has become of him.
Exo.32.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- למי: PREP,interr
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- התפרקו: VERB,hitpael,perf,3,m,pl
- ויתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ואשלכהו: VERB,hiphil,wayyiqtol,1,?,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- העגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 32:4 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel: Aaron's declaration and the people's crafting of the calf appear immediately prior and set the scene for Aaron's later claim about melting gold and the calf's emergence.
- 1 Kings 12:28-30 (verbal): Jeroboam sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan and uses the same formula ('these are your gods who brought you up out of Egypt'), echoing the language and motif of Exodus 32.
- Psalm 106:19-20 (quotation): The psalm recounts the golden calf episode—making and worshiping the metal image—and explicitly references the people's exchange of glory for an image, directly reflecting Exodus 32.
- Acts 7:41 (quotation): Stephen's speech in Acts cites the golden calf incident, describing the making of the calf and the people sacrificing to the idol, directly alluding to Exodus 32 and Aaron's role.
- Judges 8:24-27 (thematic): Gideon's people fashion a golden ephod from spoils and it becomes an object of worship; thematically parallels the making of a gold cultic object that leads Israel into idolatry.
Alternative generated candidates
- So I said to them, Whoever has gold, take it off; and they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.
- And I said to them, Whoever has gold, take it off; and they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.
Exo.32.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- פרע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- פרעה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- לשמצה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בקמיהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,poss:3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exod.32:22-24 (structural): Immediate narrative follow-up: Aaron's explanation/defense for the golden calf shows his role in allowing the people to 'get out of control' and become a reproach.
- Exod.32:7-8 (structural): Contextual parallel: God reports that Israel 'has turned aside' and corrupted themselves by making the calf—background for Moses' observation that the people were unruly and disgraced.
- Ps.44:13-14 (verbal): Uses virtually the same imagery/language—Israel made 'a byword' and 'a laughingstock' among the nations—echoing the disgrace noted in Exod 32:25.
- Ps.106:19-23 (thematic): Retells the golden-calf episode: recounts the people's idolatry and Aaron's involvement, and the divine wrath and danger that resulted—thematisation of shame and leadership failure.
- Deut.9:16-21 (allusion): Moses' retrospective account of the calf incident, including his judgment of the people's revolt and his intercession for Aaron—an explicit later reflection on the same scandal and its leaders' culpability.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses saw that the people were unrestrained, for Aaron had let them run wild to derision among their adversaries.
- And Moses saw that the people were unrestrained, for Aaron had let them run wild, to derision among their adversaries.
Exo.32.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בשער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ויאספו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- כל: DET
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- לוי: PROPN,m,sg
Parallels
- Joshua 24:15 (thematic): Public summons to choose whom to serve—both Joshua and Moses call the people to declare allegiance to Yahweh.
- 1 Kings 18:21 (thematic): Elijah's challenge (“How long will you waver…?”) parallels Moses' demand for those ‘for the LORD’ to come forward and choose sides between Yahweh and false worship.
- Numbers 25:7-13 (thematic): Phinehas (a priest/Levite) violently intervenes to halt idolatry and immorality; echoes the Levites' rapid mobilisation and zealous action after Moses' summons.
- Psalm 106:28-31 (allusion): The psalm recounts the golden calf incident and praises Phinehas' zeal—later reflection on the same episode in Exodus where the Levites rally to Moses.
- Deuteronomy 33:9 (allusion): Moses' blessing of Levi emphasizes their fidelity and service (‘they kept your charge’), reflecting the tradition that the Levites alone rallied to Moses in the crisis of the golden calf.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said: Whoever is for the LORD, to me! And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves to him.
- And Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said: Who is for the LORD? To me! And all the sons of Levi gathered to him.
Exo.32.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שימו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חרבו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m
- על: PREP
- ירכו: NOUN,f,sg,poss,3,m
- עברו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- ושובו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- משער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לשער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במחנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והרגו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- קרבו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3ms_suff
Parallels
- Numbers 25:4-8 (thematic): After Israel's sexual immorality and idolatry at Peor, God orders the judges to execute the offenders; Phinehas' killing of the couple and the resulting deaths in the camp parallel communal, covenant-enforcing bloodshed.
- Deuteronomy 13:6-11 (thematic): The legal injunction to put to death anyone—even a close family member—who entices Israel to worship other gods parallels the mandate in Exod 32 to kill kin who have violated covenant loyalty.
- Joshua 7:24-26 (structural): Achan's sin leads to the identification and execution of Achan (and his family/possessions) as a communal purge for covenant violation, mirroring the pattern of killing offenders within the community.
- 2 Kings 10:18-28 (thematic): Jehu's violent purge of Baal worshippers (and the killing of those associated) displays a similar motif of mass execution to eradicate idolatry and restore covenant faithfulness.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Put each man his sword on his thigh; pass through and back from gate to gate in the camp, and kill, each man his brother, and each man his companion, and each man his kinsman.
- And he said to them: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, Put each man his sword on his thigh; pass through and return from gate to gate in the camp, and let each kill his brother, and each his companion, and each his neighbor.
Exo.32.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- לוי: PROPN,m,sg
- כדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויפל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- כשלשת: NUM,card,sg,cons
- אלפי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 25:6-8 (thematic): Phinehas’ violent action to stop Israel’s idolatry/immorality — like the Levites’ execution, an act of zeal that averts divine wrath.
- Deuteronomy 13:12-18 (structural): Law prescribing that an idolatrous city be put to the sword — a legal/structural precedent for communal killing as punishment for apostasy.
- Joshua 7:24-25 (thematic): Achan’s public execution and destruction of his family for covenant violation — another instance of communal purging for idolatry/sin.
- Psalm 106:19-23 (allusion): A poetic retelling of the golden calf episode (God’s anger and Israel’s sin) that echoes the Exodus narrative and its consequences.
- Acts 7:40-43 (allusion): Stephen’s summary of Israel’s making of the calf and God’s displeasure — an NT retelling that recalls the Exodus incident and its disciplinary outcomes.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
- And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses; and there fell of the people on that day about three thousand men.
Exo.32.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלאו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ידכם: NOUN,f,pl,suff-2,pl
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בבנו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff-3,ms
- ובאחיו: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff-3,ms
- ולתת: VERB,qal,inf
- עליכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ברכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 32:26 (structural): Immediate context: Moses' summons 'Who is on the LORD's side?' leads to the Levites' action that precedes and sets up his call to consecrate themselves in v.29.
- Numbers 3:12-13 (thematic): Declares that God has taken the Levites in place of the firstborn—parallels Exodus 32:29's consecration language and the transferred family-responsibility motif ('upon his son, and upon his brother').
- Numbers 8:14-19 (structural): Describes the formal consecration, cleansing, and assignment of the Levites to priestly service, echoing Exodus 32:29's call to consecrate for the LORD's service and receive blessing.
- Exodus 13:2 (verbal): Command to 'consecrate to me every firstborn' shares the key verb and the idea of setting persons apart to the LORD, linking sacrificial/consecratory language with Exodus 32:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses said: Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD—for each man was against his son and against his brother—in order that he may bestow upon you today a blessing.
- And Moses said: Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD—each at the cost of his son and his brother—so that he may bestow upon you today a blessing.
Exo.32.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ממחרת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- חטאתם: NOUN,f,sg,pronominal:2,pl
- חטאה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גדלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ועתה: CONJ
- אעלה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אולי: ADV
- אכפרה: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- בעד: PREP
- חטאתכם: NOUN,f,sg,pronominal:2,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 32:11-14 (verbal): Earlier in the same incident Moses pleads with God to relent from destroying Israel — the same intercessory motif and language of entreaty to avert divine wrath.
- Exodus 32:31-32 (structural): Immediate continuation: Moses offers to make atonement and even to be blotted out for the people's sin, expanding on his role as intercessor.
- Deuteronomy 9:18-20 (allusion): Moses' retrospective account of the golden calf episode: he fasted and prayed, interceding so that God would forgive Israel — a direct retelling of the same intercession.
- Numbers 14:13-20 (thematic): Another major instance of Moses interceding on Israel's behalf after their rebellion, using similar petitions to God to forgive and spare the people.
- Psalm 106:23-31 (allusion): The psalm recounts the golden calf crisis and attributes Israel's pardon to Moses' intercession (and later Phinehas), echoing the theme of mediation and divine forgiveness.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people: You have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up to the LORD—perhaps I may make atonement for your sin.
- And it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people: You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD—perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.
Exo.32.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אנא: PART
- חטא: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- חטאה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גדלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ויעשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deut.9.16-19 (verbal): Moses retells the golden‑calf episode and his extended intercession ('I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights'), directly echoing the Exodus account of the people's great sin and Moses' plea.
- Num.14.13-20 (structural): Moses' petition to God to spare Israel after a grave rebellion parallels his plea in Exodus 32—similar structure of intercession asking God to relent from wrath for the people's sin.
- Ps.106.19-23 (thematic): The psalm recounts the golden calf and explicitly credits Moses' intercession ('Therefore the LORD had regard for the prayer of Moses'), echoing Exodus 32's theme of sin and mediation.
- Acts.7.40-43 (allusion): Stephen cites the golden‑calf episode as emblematic of Israel's idolatry, alluding to the same event Moses confronts in Exodus 32 and highlighting its theological significance.
- 1 Kgs.12.28-30 (thematic): Jeroboam's later making of golden calves for Israel recalls the Exodus incident thematically, showing the recurring problem of calf‑idolatry in Israel's history.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses returned to the LORD and said: Alas, this people has sinned a great sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold.
- And Moses returned to the LORD and said: Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold.
Exo.32.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- תשא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- חטאתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,mp
- ואם: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- מחני: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg+obj1,sg
- נא: PART
- מספרך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,ms
- אשר: PRON,rel
- כתבת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 32:33 (structural): Immediate divine reply to Moses' offer — continuation of the same incident, addressing the request about being blotted from God's book.
- Numbers 14:19-20 (thematic): Moses again intercedes for Israel asking God to pardon their sin; God responds that he has pardoned according to Moses' plea — same intercessory motif.
- Psalm 69:28 (verbal): Uses the language of being 'blotted out of the book (of life)' for enemies — verbal parallel to Moses' petition to be erased from God's book.
- Revelation 3:5 (verbal): Speaks of names being blotted out (or not blotted out) from the book of life — a later Christian use of the same imagery about divine records and erasure.
- Revelation 20:12-15 (thematic): Final judgment scene featuring books and the 'book of life' — develops the theological theme of divine record-keeping and the fate of names mentioned in Exodus 32:32.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, blot me, I pray, out of your book that you have written.
- And now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, blot me, please, out of your book that you have written.
Exo.32.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- חטא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אמחנו: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,sg,OBJ:3,m,sg
- מספרי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 32:32 (verbal): Moses offers to be "blotted out" of God's book in place of Israel — a direct verbal and narrative counterpart to God's statement in 32:33 about blotting out sinners.
- Psalm 69:28 (verbal): Uses the same imagery—"blot out of the book of the living"—echoing the motif of names being erased as a form of divine judgment.
- Revelation 3:5 (allusion): Jesus promises not to blot a believer's name from the book of life; a New Testament use of the same 'book' metaphor, here affirming preservation rather than erasure.
- Malachi 3:16 (thematic): Speaks of a 'book of remembrance' in which the faithful are recorded — a thematic counterpart emphasizing written record before God that contrasts with the idea of being blotted out.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD said to Moses: Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
- And the LORD said to Moses: Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Exo.32.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- נחה: VERB,qal,imper,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דברתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- מלאכי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ילך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לפניך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- וביום: CONJ+PREP
- פקדי: NOUN,m,sg,poss:1,sg
- ופקדתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,x,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- חטאתם: NOUN,m,sg,poss:3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exod.23:20-23 (verbal): Promises an angel who will go before Israel—language and function of the divine/angelic escort closely parallel 'מלאכי ילך לפניך' and the protective/punitive role described here.
- Exod.33:2 (structural): Immediate narrative reprise of the same commission—God again tells Moses an angel will go before Israel and links leading the people with divine visitation and judgment.
- Num.14:18 (thematic): Speaks of God 'visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children'—shares the theological theme of divine visitation/punishment for sin reflected in 'ביום פקדי ופקדתי עליהם חטאתם.'
- Lev.26:21-24 (thematic): Series of covenant curses where God says 'I will visit' punishment on Israel for disobedience—parallels the motif and wording of God visiting sin with consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you; and in the day I visit, I will visit upon them their sin.
- And now, go, lead the people to the place about which I spoke to you; behold, my angel will go before you. But in the day I visit, I will visit upon them their sin.
Exo.32.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- העגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
Parallels
- Psalm 106:19-23 (verbal): Retells the golden-calf episode ("they made a calf") and states that God punished Israel with a plague until Moses interceded, directly paralleling Exodus' report of divine striking for the calf.
- Deuteronomy 9:16-20 (allusion): Moses' retrospective account of the calf—notes Israel's sin, God's fierce anger and readiness to destroy them, and Moses' intercession—echoing Exodus' notice of God's punishment for the calf.
- 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 (thematic): Paul cites Israel's sins (including the golden calf) and their punishments as warning examples for Christians; he alludes to the divine judgments that befell the people for idolatry.
- Acts 7:39-43 (allusion): Stephen recounts Israel's making of the calf and subsequent divine rejection/giving them up to idolatry, retelling the Exodus episode and its consequences in New Testament proclamation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD struck the people, because they made the calf that Aaron had made.
- And the LORD struck the people, because of what they did with the calf that Aaron made.
Exo.33.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- עלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מזה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- והעם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אל: NEG
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נשבעתי: VERB,niphal,perf,1,_,sg
- לאברהם: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ליצחק: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וליעקב: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לזרעך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:2ms
- אתננה: VERB,qal,fut,1,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 15:18 (quotation): God's covenantal grant of the land to Abraham's descendants — the original oath ('to your offspring I give this land') that Exodus 33:1 invokes.
- Exodus 3:8 (thematic): God's promise to bring Israel out of Egypt into 'a good and broad land' — thematically echoes the deliverance-to-the-promised-land motif.
- Exodus 6:2-8 (verbal): Reiterates the LORD's identity and the pledge to bring Israel into the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — closely parallels the language and covenant focus of Exod 33:1.
- Joshua 1:2-4 (structural): A direct command to 'go over' into the land given to Israel, functioning as the narrative fulfillment and structural counterpart to the command in Exod 33:1.
- Numbers 14:30 (allusion): Refers to the oath about the land and the consequence that those who rebel will not enter it — alludes to the same covenantal promise and its conditions referenced in Exod 33:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD spoke to Moses: Go, go up from here, you and the people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, To your offspring I will give it.
- And the LORD spoke to Moses: Go, go up from here, you and the people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, To your offspring I will give it.
Exo.33.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושלחתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- לפניך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- מלאך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וגרשתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הכנעני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
- האמרי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והחתי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והפרזי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- החוי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והיבוסי: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exod.23.23 (quotation): Uses the same promise of ‘My angel will go before you’ and anticipates bringing Israel into the land by removing the inhabitants (close verbal parallel).
- Exod.23.28-30 (thematic): Again describes YHWH’s proactive military aid—sending agents (hornets/angel) and driving out Canaanite peoples so Israel can possess the land (same divine action to dispossess nations).
- Deut.7.1 (verbal): A parallel catalogue of nations to be dispossessed (Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites), framing the same command to annihilate/drive out inhabitants of the land.
- Num.33.51-56 (verbal): God’s command to Moses to instruct Israel to dispossess the land’s inhabitants, with a similar list and the same legal/ritual consequences for failing to drive them out.
- Josh.3.10 (allusion): Joshua’s proclamation that the LORD will drive out the inhabitants before Israel echoes Exodus’ promise of divine removal of Canaanite peoples as Israel enters the land.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
- And I will send before you an angel and will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
Exo.33.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- זבת: VERB,qal,ptcp,-,f,sg
- חלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ודבש: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- אעלה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- בקרבך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- עם: PREP
- קשה: ADJ,m,sg
- ערף: ADJ,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- פן: CONJ
- אכלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg+PRON,2,m,sg
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.3:8 (verbal): The promise of a “land flowing with milk and honey” is first announced here — same phrase and divine promise to bring Israel into Canaan.
- Exod.32:9-10 (verbal): God already calls Israel a “stiff-necked people” and threatens to consume them for their sin; Exodus 33:3 repeats the charge and the threat of not accompanying them.
- Num.14:22-23 (thematic): After the spies’ report and rebellion, God declares that the faithless generation will not enter the promised land — a parallel divine refusal to lead Israel into Canaan because of their disobedience.
- Lev.26:11-12 (thematic): Leviticus promises God’s dwelling among Israel when they obey (“I will walk among you and be your God”), offering an intentional contrast with Exod 33:3 where God withholds his presence because of their stubbornness.
- Deut.31:17-18 (allusion): Moses warns that if Israel turns to other gods God will hide his face and forsake them — echoes of divine withdrawal of presence and protection found in Exodus 33:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- To a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.
- To a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.
Exo.33.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- הדבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הרע: ADJ,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- ויתאבלו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- שתו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עדיו: PREP,3,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 37:34 (thematic): Jacob rends his garments and mourns deeply when told the 'bad tidings' about Joseph—parallel theme of immediate public mourning on hearing grievous news.
- Esther 4:1–3 (verbal): On learning of the edict to destroy the Jews, Mordecai and the Jews put on sackcloth and ashes and ceased normal adornment—directly parallels removal of ornaments and communal mourning.
- Job 1:20–21 (thematic): Job tears his robe, shaves his head and falls to the ground in mourning upon hearing catastrophic news—another instance of the customary physical signs of grief after bad tidings.
- Lamentations 2:10 (verbal): Elders cast dust on their heads and gird with sackcloth in response to Jerusalem’s disaster—language and imagery echo the cessation of ornamentation and public lament.
- 2 Samuel 1:11–12 (thematic): Upon receiving the report of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths, David and his men mourn, fast and weep—the communal lamentation after receiving tragic news parallels Exodus 33:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when the people heard this grievous word, they mourned, and no man put his ornaments on himself.
- And when the people heard this harsh word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
Exo.33.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- עם: PREP
- קשה: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ערף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רגע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- אעלה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- בקרבך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,prsfx:2,m,sg
- וכליתיך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg,prfx:w,suf:2,m
- ועתה: CONJ
- הורד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,suf:2,m
- מעליך: PREP,2,m
- ואדעה: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- מה: PRON,int
- אעשה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.32.9 (verbal): God explicitly calls Israel 'a stiff-necked people' in the golden calf episode — the same characterization and divine displeasure that frames Exod.33.5.
- Exod.33.3 (structural): Immediate chapter parallel: earlier God tells Moses he will not go up in their midst because they are stiff‑necked — 33:5 develops the tension between divine presence and judgment.
- Deut.9.6 (verbal): Moses similarly warns Israel in Deuteronomy that they are 'stiff‑necked' and liable to provoke the LORD to anger — same trope of stubbornness and threatened punishment.
- Num.14.11 (thematic): After Israel's rebellion at Kadesh, God threatens to consume them and start anew with Moses — parallel theme of divine wrath and potential annihilation of the people.
- Isa.48.4 (allusion): Isaiah depicts Israel's obstinacy with neck imagery ('your neck is an iron sinew'), echoing the 'stiff‑necked' motif used in Exodus to describe rebellious Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD said to Moses: Say to the Israelites, You are a stiff-necked people; if for one moment I go up in your midst, I will consume you. And now, take off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I will do to you.
- And the LORD said to Moses: Say to the Israelites, You are a stiff-necked people; if for a moment I go up in your midst, I will consume you. And now, take off your ornaments from upon you, that I may know what I will do to you.
Exo.33.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתנצלו: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- עדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מהר: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- חורב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.35.4 (verbal): Jacob’s household hands over 'strange gods' and earrings and Jacob buries them—directly parallels removal of ornaments/earrings tied to idolatry at Horeb.
- Hosea.2.13 (thematic): God condemns Israel for decking herself with earrings and other ornaments in connection with Baal-worship; ornaments function as symbols of idolatrous unfaithfulness and are judged/removed.
- Isaiah.3.18-24 (thematic): Oracle describing the taking away of women's finery (tinkling ornaments, bracelets, veils) as part of divine judgment—echoes motif of stripping adornment in humiliation/condemnation.
- Ezekiel.16.12-14 (allusion): God recounts adorning Jerusalem with jewelry and fine apparel and then later punishing her for whoring—parallels the association of ornaments with covenant unfaithfulness and their removal.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.
- So the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.
And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people assembled against Aaron and said to him: Rise, make for us gods who shall go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him. And Aaron said to them: Take off the gold rings that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me. And all the people took off the gold rings that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he took it from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a calf, a cast image; and they said: These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. And Aaron saw, and he built an altar before it, and Aaron proclaimed and said: A festival to the LORD tomorrow. And they rose early on the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to revel. And the LORD spoke to Moses: Go, descend, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.
They have turned aside quickly from the way that I commanded them; they have made for themselves a calf, a cast image, and have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and said: These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. And the LORD said to Moses: I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. And now, let me alone, that my anger may burn against them and I may consume them; and I will make you into a great nation. But Moses implored the LORD his God and said: Why, O LORD, should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
Why should the Egyptians say, saying: With evil intent he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them from upon the face of the earth? Turn from the fierceness of your anger, and relent of the disaster against your people.
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by yourself, and you spoke to them: I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. And the LORD relented concerning the disaster that he had spoken to do to his people. And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand—tablets written on both sides; on this side and on that side they were written. And the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. And Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, and he said to Moses: The sound of war is in the camp. And he said: It is not the sound of shouting for victory, and it is not the sound of shouting for defeat; the sound of singing is what I hear. And it came to pass, as he drew near to the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing, and Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. And he took the calf that they had made, and burned it with fire, and ground it to powder until it was fine, and scattered it upon the surface of the water, and made the Israelites drink it. And Moses said to Aaron: What did this people do to you, that you have brought upon them so great a sin? And Aaron said: Let not the anger of my lord burn; you know the people, that they are bent on evil. And they said to me: Make for us gods who shall go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him. And I said to them: Whoever has gold, take it off; and they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out. And Moses saw that the people had broken loose, for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their adversaries. And Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said: Who is for the LORD? To me! And all the sons of Levi gathered to him. And he said to them: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let each man put his sword on his thigh; pass through and return from gate to gate in the camp, and let each man kill his brother, and each his companion, and each his neighbor. And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. And Moses said: Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD—even each against his son and against his brother—that He may bestow upon you today a blessing. And it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people: You have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up to the LORD—perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. And Moses returned to the LORD and said: Alas, this people has sinned a great sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. And now, if you will bear their sin—but if not, blot me, I pray, out of your book that you have written. And the LORD said to Moses: Whoever has sinned against me, him I will blot out of my book. And now, go, lead the people to the place of which I spoke to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you; nevertheless, in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin. And the LORD struck the people, because they made the calf that Aaron made. And the LORD spoke to Moses: Go, go up from here, you and the people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying: To your seed I will give it. And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
To a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way. And when the people heard this evil word, they mourned, and no man put his ornaments on himself. And the LORD said to Moses: Say to the Israelites: You are a stiff-necked people. If for one moment I were to go up in your midst, I would consume you. Now take off your ornaments from yourselves, and I will know what I will do to you. And the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.