When he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became extremely angry. He threw the tablets [of the law] from his hands and broke them to pieces at the bottom of the mountain.1 Moses saw that the people were running wild, for Aaron had let them get completely out of control, causing derision from their enemies.2
King James’ translators painted a more vivid picture of how out of control the people were running wild. Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies).3 Even in this translation Aaron’s role seems potentially passive. By conceding to their demands for a golden calf Aaron made them naked (euphemistically speaking) unto their shame among their enemies. John Nelson Darby4 gave this verse a different twist in his translation: Moses saw the people how they were stripped; for Aaron had stripped them to [their] shame before their adversaries. This sounds more like Aaron as officiating priest commanded the people to strip for πορνεία, the ritualized sexual worship they had practiced in Egypt.5
The translators of the NET do not believe that the Israelites engaged in such worship6 in Exodus 32 (nor that the Greek word πορνεία7 refers to it, as far as I can tell). The note on the word translated running wild and completely out of control reads: “The word is difficult to interpret. There does not seem to be enough evidence to justify the KJV’s translation ‘naked.’ It appears to mean something like ‘let loose’ or ‘lack restraint’ (Prov 29:18). The idea seems to be that the people had broken loose, were undisciplined, and were completely given over to their desires.” In 1 Corinthians 10:7, however, Paul’s quotation of Exodus 32:6—The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play—the note reads: “The term ‘play’ may refer to idolatrous, sexual play here, although that is determined by the context rather than the meaning of the word itself (cf. BDAG 750 s.v. παίζω).”
Whoever is for the Lord, come to me, Moses said. All the Levites gathered around him, and he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Each man fasten his sword on his side, and go back and forth from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and each one kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”8
I have seen this people, the Lord had said to Moses on the mountain. Look what a stiff-necked people they are [Table]! So now, leave me alone so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them [Table]…9 With these words in his mind, though he had pleaded with the Lord to turn from your burning anger, and relent of this evil against your people,10 when he saw their sin with his own eyes Moses formed an ad hoc militia or national guard. Here I can see the ministry that produced death (θανάτου, a form of θάνατος) – carved in letters on stone tablets11 functioning as the ministry that produced condemnation (κατακρίσεως, a form of κατάκρισις).12
Though I have considered whether Moses had a change of heart, I think it was the same Spirit, who through Moses’ words caused the Lord to relent over the evil that he had said he would do to his people,13 who spoke the words through him, Each man fasten his sword on his side, and go back and forth from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and each one kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor. And He did this for the very same reason, to spare most of the people of Israel, to remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by yourself and told them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken about I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever.”14
The Levites did what Moses ordered, and that day about three thousand men of the people died.15 The Levites were not included in the census of males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army.16 Whether their number was comparable to the other clans (50,000) or half the size of the smallest clan (16,000), their campaign was not exceptionally ruthless. Apparently these deaths served no other purpose than to restore order, to bring a halt to the people’s play.
The deaths of three thousand men had provided no atonement (Exodus 32:30-32 NET).
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a very serious sin, but now I will go up to the Lord – perhaps I can make atonement on behalf of your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has committed a very serious sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold [Table]. But now, if you will forgive their sin…, but if not, wipe me out from your book that you have written” [Table].
In fact, Moses was unable to make atonement for those who sinned. And the deaths of three thousand men were not sufficient punishment (Exodus 32:33-35 NET).
The Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me – that person I will wipe out of my book. So now go, lead the people to the place I have spoken to you about. See, my angel will go before you. But on the day that I punish, I will indeed punish them for their sin.” And the Lord sent a plague on the people because they had made the calf – the one Aaron made.
This is law. This is fear-based righteousness. It is not the fear of witnessing the catastrophic destruction of the Egyptian army. It is not the fear of hearing a voice from something like a volcano in full ash eruption. It is the fear of leaders (Moses and the Levites) using lethal force to uphold the law, and the fear of God as a potential enemy.
The Lord said to Moses, “Go up from here, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 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. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey.”17
It sounds wonderful. The Lord will lead and guide them into a land of plenty. But the fear must be ever present. But I will not go up among you, the Lord continued, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way.18
Moses took the tent and pitched it outside the camp, at a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. Anyone seeking the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp.
And when Moses went out to the tent, all the people would get up and stand at the entrance to their tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent. And whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. When all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people, each one at the entrance of his own tent, would rise and worship. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, the way a person speaks to a friend.19
It may not have occurred to Moses to consider his exalted position the ministry that produced death or the ministry that produced condemnation, though he seemed to recognize it in respect to the Levites who followed him. “You have been consecrated today for the Lord,” he said to them, “for each of you was against his son or against his brother, so he has given a blessing to you today.”20 But it did occur to him to seek something more from God, something we might call a ministry of the Spirit21 or a ministry that produces righteousness.22
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have been saying to me, ‘Bring this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. But you said, ‘I know you by name, and also you have found favor in my sight.’ Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see that this nation is your people.”23
“All24 things have been given to me by my Father,” Jesus said. “No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.” Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings longed to see what you see but did not see25 it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”26
And the Lord said [to Moses], “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here. For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?”27
Addendum: July 2, 2026
Tables comparing Exodus 32:25; 32:26; 32:27; 32:28; Numbers 1:45; Exodus 32:30; 32:33; 32:34; 32:35; 33:1; 33:2; 33:3; 33:7; 33:8; 33:9; 33:10; 33:11; 32:29; 33:12; 33:13; 33:14; 33:15 and 33:16 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 32:25; 32:26; 32:27; 32:28; Numbers 1:45; Exodus 32:30; 32:33; 32:34; 32:35; 33:1; 33:2; 33:3; 33:7; 33:8; 33:9; 33:10; 33:11; 32:29; 33:12; 33:13; 33:14; 33:15 and 33:16 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Luke 10:22 and 10:24 in the NET and KJV follow.
| And when Moses saw that the people were broken loose–for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies– | And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) | Moses saw that the people were running wild, for Aaron had let them get completely out of control, causing derision from their enemies. |
| καὶ ἰδὼν Μωυσῆς τὸν λαὸν ὅτι διεσκέδασται διεσκέδασεν γὰρ αὐτοὺς Ααρων ἐπίχαρμα τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις αὐτῶν | καὶ ἰδὼν Μωυσῆς τὸν λαὸν ὅτι διεσκέδασται, διεσκέδασε γὰρ αὐτοὺς ᾿Ααρὼν ἐπίχαρμα τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις αὐτῶν |
| And when Moyses saw the people, that it had scattered—for Aaron scattered them, an object of gloating to their opponents— | And when Moses saw that the people was scattered,– for Aaron [had] scattered them [so as to be] a rejoicing to their enemies,– |
| then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said: ‘Whoso is on HaShem’S side, let him come unto me.’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. | Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. | So Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” All the Levites gathered around him, |
| ἔστη δὲ Μωυσῆς ἐπὶ τῆς πύλης τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ εἶπεν τίς πρὸς κύριον ἴτω πρός με συνῆλθον οὖν πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Λευι | ἔστη δὲ Μωυσῆς ἐπὶ τῆς πύλης τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ εἶπε· τίς πρὸς Κύριον; ἴτω πρός με. συνῆλθον οὖν πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Λευί |
| then Moyses stood at the gate of the camp and said, “Who is with the Lord? Let him come to me!” Then all the sons of Leui gathered to him. | then stood Moses at the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come to me. Then all the sons of Levi came to him. |
| And he said unto them: ‘Thus saith HaShem, the G-d of Israel: Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.’ | And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. | and he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said ‘Each man fasten his sword on his side, and go back and forth from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and each one kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” |
| καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ θέσθε ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ῥομφαίαν ἐπὶ τὸν μηρὸν καὶ διέλθατε καὶ ἀνακάμψατε ἀπὸ πύλης ἐπὶ πύλην διὰ τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ ἀποκτείνατε ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν ἔγγιστα αὐτοῦ | καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ· θέσθε ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ῥομφαίαν ἐπὶ τὸν μηρὸν καὶ διέλθατε καὶ ἀνακάμψατε ἀπὸ πύλης ἐπὶ πύλην διά τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ ἀποκτείνατε ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸ ἔγγιστα αὐτοῦ |
| And he says to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Each one put his own sword on his thigh, and go through, and return from gate to gate through the camp, and each one kill his brother, and each one his neighbor, and each one the one nearest to him’.” | And he says to them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every one his sword on his thigh, and go through and return from gate to gate through the camp, and slay every one his brother, and every one his neighbour, and every one him that is nearest to him. |
| 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 children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. | The Levites did what Moses ordered, and that day about 3,000 men of the people died. |
| καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Λευι καθὰ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ εἰς τρισχιλίους ἄνδρας | καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Λευὶ καθὰ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς, καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ εἰς τρισχιλίους ἄνδρας |
| And the sons of Leui did according as Moyses said to them, and there fell from the people on that day about three thousand men. | And the sons of Levi did as Moses spoke to them, and there fell of the people in that day to the [number of] three thousand men. |
| And all those that were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; | So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; | All the Israelites who were twenty years old or older, who could serve in Israel’s army, were numbered according to their families. |
| καὶ ἐγένετο πᾶσα ἡ ἐπίσκεψις υἱῶν Ισραηλ σὺν δυνάμει αὐτῶν ἀπὸ εἰκοσαετοῦς καὶ ἐπάνω πᾶς ὁ ἐκπορευόμενος παρατάξασθαι ἐν Ισραηλ | καὶ ἐγένετο πᾶσα ἡ ἐπίσκεψις υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ σὺν δυνάμει αὐτῶν ἀπὸ εἰκοσαετοῦς καὶ ἐπάνω, πᾶς ὁ ἐκπορευόμενος παρατάξασθαι ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ |
| And the whole enrollment of the sons of Israel with their force from twenty years and above, everyone who would go out to do battle in Israel was | And the whole numbering of the children of Israel with their host from twenty years old and upward, every one that goes out to set himself in battle array in Israel, came to |
| And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people: ‘Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up unto HaShem, peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin.’ | And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. | The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a very serious sin, but now I will go up to the Lord—perhaps I can make atonement on behalf of your sin.” |
| καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὴν αὔριον εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς τὸν λαόν ὑμεῖς ἡμαρτήκατε ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην καὶ νῦν ἀναβήσομαι πρὸς τὸν θεόν ἵνα ἐξιλάσωμαι περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὑμῶν | Καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὴν αὔριον εἶπε Μωυσῆς πρὸς τὸν λαόν· ὑμεῖς ἡμαρτήκατε ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην· καὶ νῦν ἀναβήσομαι πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, ἵνα ἐξιλάσωμαι περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὑμῶν |
| And it happened on the next day that Moyses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up to God in order that I might make atonement for your sin.” | And it came to pass after the morrow [had begun], that Moses said to the people, Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up to God, that I may make atonement for your sin. |
| And HaShem said unto Moses: ‘Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book. | And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. | The Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me—that person I will wipe out of my book. |
| καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν εἴ τις ἡμάρτηκεν ἐνώπιόν μου ἐξαλείψω αὐτὸν ἐκ τῆς βίβλου μου | καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· εἴ τις ἡμάρτηκεν ἐνώπιόν μου, ἐξαλείψω αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῆς βίβλου μου |
| And the Lord said to Moyses, “If anyone has sinned before me, I will erase him from my book. | And the Lord said to Moses, If any one has sinned against me, I will blot them out of my book. |
| And now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee; behold, Mine angel shall go before thee; nevertheless in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.’ | Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. | So now go, lead the people to the place I have spoken to you about. See, my angel will go before you. But on the day that I punish, I will indeed punish them for their sin.” |
| νυνὶ δὲ βάδιζε κατάβηθι καὶ ὁδήγησον τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν εἶπά σοι ἰδοὺ ὁ ἄγγελός μου προπορεύεται πρὸ προσώπου σου ᾗ δ᾽ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπισκέπτωμαι ἐπάξω ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτῶν | νυνὶ δὲ βάδιζε, κατάβηθι καὶ ὁδήγησον τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον εἰς τὸν τόπον, ὃν εἶπά σοι· ἰδοὺ ὁ ἄγγελός μου προπορεύσεται πρὸ προσώπου σου· ᾗ δ᾿ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπισκέπτωμαι, ἐπάξω ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτῶν |
| But now go, and lead this people to the place that I to the place that l told you. Look, my angel will go before your face. But on whichever day I concern myself, I will bring upon them their sin.” | And now go, descend, and lead this people into the place of which I spoke to thee: behold, my angel shall go before thy face; and in the day when I shall visit I will bring upon them their sin. |
| And HaShem smote the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made. | And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made. | And the Lord sent a plague on the people because they had made the calf—the one Aaron made. |
| καὶ ἐπάταξεν κύριος τὸν λαὸν περὶ τῆς ποιήσεως τοῦ μόσχου οὗ ἐποίησεν Ααρων | καὶ ἐπάταξε Κύριος τὸν λαὸν περὶ τῆς ποιήσεως τοῦ μόσχου, οὗ ἐποίησεν ᾿Ααρών |
| And the Lord struck the people for the making of the calf that Aaron made. | And the Lord smote the people for the making the calf, which Aaron made. |
| And HaShem spoke unto Moses: ‘Depart, go up hence, thou and the people that thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land of which I swore unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying: Unto thy seed will I give it– | And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: | The Lord said to Moses, “Go up from here, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ |
| καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν πορεύου ἀνάβηθι ἐντεῦθεν σὺ καὶ ὁ λαός σου οὓς ἐξήγαγες ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσα τῷ Αβρααμ καὶ Ισαακ καὶ Ιακωβ λέγων τῷ σπέρματι ὑμῶν δώσω αὐτήν | ΚΑΙ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· προπορεύου, ἀνάβηθι ἐντεῦθεν σὺ καὶ ὁ λαός σου, οὓς ἐξήγαγες ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσα τῷ ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ ᾿Ιακὼβ λέγων· τῷ σπέρματι ὑμῶν δώσω αὐτήν |
| And the Lord said to Moyses, “Go, ascend from here, you and your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, into the land that I swore to Abraam, Isaak and Iakob, saying, ‘To your seed I will give it’. | And the Lord said to Moses, Go forward, go up hence, thou and thy people, whom thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, into the land which I swore to Abraam, and Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed. |
| and I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite– | And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: | 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. |
| καὶ συναποστελῶ τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου καὶ ἐκβαλεῖ τὸν Αμορραῖον καὶ Χετταῖον καὶ Φερεζαῖον καὶ Γεργεσαῖον καὶ Ευαῖον καὶ Ιεβουσαῖον | καὶ συναποστελῶ τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, καὶ ἐκβαλεῖ τὸν ᾿Αμορραῖον καὶ Χετταῖον καὶ Φερεζαῖον καὶ Γεργεσαῖον καὶ Εὐαῖον καὶ ᾿Ιεβουσαῖον καὶ Χαναναῖον |
| And I will send along my angel before you, and he will cast out the Amorrite and Chettite and Pherezite and Gergasite and Heuite and Iebousite. | And I will send at the same time my angel before thy face, and he shall cast out the Amorite and the Chettite, and the Pherezite and Gergesite, and Evite, and Jebusite, and Chananite. |
| unto a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people; lest I consume thee in the way.’ | Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. | Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way.” |
| καὶ εἰσάξω σε εἰς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι οὐ γὰρ μὴ συναναβῶ μετὰ σοῦ διὰ τὸ λαὸν σκληροτράχηλόν σε εἶναι ἵνα μὴ ἐξαναλώσω σε ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ | καὶ εἰσάξω σε εἰς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι· οὐ γὰρ μὴ συναναβῶ μετὰ σοῦ, διὰ τὸ λαὸν σκληροτράχηλόν σε εἶναι, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαναλώσω σε ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ |
| And he will lead you into a land flowing with milk and honey. For I shall never go up together with you because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I exterminate you in the way.” | And I will bring thee into a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up with thee, because thou art a stiff-necked people, lest I consume thee by the way. |
| Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it without the camp, afar off from the camp; and he called it The tent of meeting. And it came to pass, that every one that sought HaShem went out unto the tent of meeting, which was without the camp. | And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. | Moses took the tent and pitched it outside the camp, at a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. Anyone seeking the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp. |
| καὶ λαβὼν Μωυσῆς τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ ἔπηξεν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ ἐκλήθη σκηνὴ μαρτυρίου καὶ ἐγένετο πᾶς ὁ ζητῶν κύριον ἐξεπορεύετο εἰς τὴν σκηνὴν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς | Καὶ λαβὼν Μωυσῆς τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ ἔπηξεν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς, μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς παρεμβολῆς, καὶ ἐκλήθη σκηνὴ μαρτυρίου· καὶ ἐγένετο, πᾶς ὁ ζητῶν Κύριον ἐξεπορεύετο εἰς τὴν σκηνὴν τὴν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς |
| And Moyses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and it was called “tent of witness.” And it happened that everyone who was seeking the Lord would go out to the tent outside the camp. | And Moses took his tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, at a distance from the camp; and it was called the Tabernacle of Testimony: and it came to pass [that] every one that sought the Lord went forth to the tabernacle which was without the camp. |
| And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the Tent. | And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. | And when Moses went out to the tent, all the people would get up and stand at the entrance to their tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent. |
| ἡνίκα δ᾽ ἂν εἰσεπορεύετο Μωυσῆς εἰς τὴν σκηνὴν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς εἱστήκει πᾶς ὁ λαὸς σκοπεύοντες ἕκαστος παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ κατενοοῦσαν ἀπιόντος Μωυσῆ ἕως τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν σκηνήν | ἡνίκα δ᾿ ἂν εἰσεπορεύετο Μωυσῆς εἰς τὴν σκηνὴν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς, εἱστήκει πᾶς ὁ λαὸς σκοπεύοντες ἕκαστος παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ κατενοοῦσαν ἀπιόντος Μωυσῆ ἕως τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν σκηνήν |
| And when Moyses would go into the tent, all the people stood, watching, each one at the door of his tent, and they would pay attention as Moyses went away until he entered into his tent. | And whenever Moses went into the tabernacle without the camp, all the people stood every one watching by the doors of his tent; and when Moses departed, they took notice until he entered into the tabernacle. |
| And it came to pass, when Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the Tent; and HaShem spoke with Moses. | And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. | And whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. |
| ὡς δ᾽ ἂν εἰσῆλθεν Μωυσῆς εἰς τὴν σκηνήν κατέβαινεν ὁ στῦλος τῆς νεφέλης καὶ ἵστατο ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ ἐλάλει Μωυσῇ | ὡς δ᾿ ἂν εἰσῆλθε Μωυσῆς εἰς τὴν σκηνήν, κατέβαινεν ὁ στῦλος τῆς νεφέλης, καὶ ἵστατο ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς, καὶ ἐλάλει Μωυσῇ |
| And whenever Moyses entered into the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the doors of the tent and would speak to Moyses. | And when Moses entered into the tabernacle, the pillar of the cloud descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and [God] talked to Moses. |
| And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, all the people rose up and worshipped, every man at his tent door. | And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. | When all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people, each one at the entrance of his own tent, would rise and worship. |
| καὶ ἑώρα πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τὸν στῦλον τῆς νεφέλης ἑστῶτα ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ στάντες πᾶς ὁ λαὸς προσεκύνησαν ἕκαστος ἀπὸ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς αὐτοῦ | καὶ ἑώρα πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τὸν στῦλον τῆς νεφέλης ἑστῶτα ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς, καὶ στάντες πᾶς ὁ λαὸς προσεκύνησαν ἕκαστος ἀπὸ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς αὐτοῦ |
| And all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the doors of the tent, and all the people stood and did obeisance each one at the door of his tent. | And all the people saw the pillar of the cloud standing by the door of the tabernacle, and all the people stood and worshipped every one at the door of his tent. |
| And HaShem spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he would return into the camp; but his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tent. | And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. | The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, the way a person speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his servant, Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the tent. |
| καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἐνώπιος ἐνωπίῳ ὡς εἴ τις λαλήσει πρὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ φίλον καὶ ἀπελύετο εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν ὁ δὲ θεράπων Ἰησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυη νέος οὐκ ἐξεπορεύετο ἐκ τῆς σκηνῆς | καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἐνώπιος ἐνωπίῳ, ὡς εἴ τις λαλήσει πρὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ φίλον. καὶ ἀπελύετο εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν, ὁ δὲ θεράπων ᾿Ιησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυῆ νέος οὐκ ἐξεπορεύετο ἐκ τῆς σκηνῆς |
| And the Lord spoke to Moyses face to face, as if someone should speak to his own friend. And he would return to the camp, but his attendant, Iesous son of Naue, a young man, would not go out of the tent. | And all the people saw the pillar of the cloud standing by the door of the tabernacle, and all the people stood and worshipped every one at the door of his tent. |
| And Moses said: ‘Consecrate yourselves to-day to HaShem, for every man hath been against his son and against his brother; that He may also bestow upon you a blessing this day.’ | For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. | Moses said, “You have been consecrated today for the Lord, for each of you was against his son or against his brother, so he has given a blessing to you today.” |
| καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς ἐπληρώσατε τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν σήμερον κυρίῳ ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ υἱῷ ἢ τῷ ἀδελφῷ δοθῆναι ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς εὐλογίαν | καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς· ἐπληρώσατε τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν σήμερον Κυρίῳ, ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ υἱῷ ἢ ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ, δοθῆναι ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς εὐλογίαν |
| And Moyses said to them, “You filled your hands today for the Lord, each one by the son or by the brother, for a blessing to be bestowed upon you.” | And Moses said to them, Ye have filled your hands this day to the Lord each one on his son or on his brother, so that blessing should be given to you. |
| And Moses said unto HaShem: ‘See, Thou sayest unto me: Bring up this people; and Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Yet Thou hast said: I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in My sight. | And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. | Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have been saying to me, ‘Bring this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. But you said, ‘I know you by name, and also you have found favor in my sight.’ |
| καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς κύριον ἰδοὺ σύ μοι λέγεις ἀνάγαγε τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἐδήλωσάς μοι ὃν συναποστελεῖς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ σὺ δέ μοι εἶπας οἶδά σε παρὰ πάντας καὶ χάριν ἔχεις παρ᾽ ἐμοί | Καὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον· ἰδοὺ σύ μοι λέγεις· ἀνάγαγε τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἐδήλωσάς μοι, ὃν συναποστελεῖς μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ· σὺ δέ μοι εἶπας· οἶδά σε παρὰ πάντας, καὶ χάριν ἔχεις παρ᾿ ἐμοί |
| And Moyses said to the Lord, “Look, you say to me, ‘Lead up this people!’ but you did not disclose to me whom you would send along with me. And you said to me, ‘I have known you above all others, and you have favor with me’. | And Moses said to the Lord, Lo! thou sayest to me, Lead on this people; but thou hast not shewed me whom thou wilt send with me, but thou hast said to me, I know thee above all, and thou hast favour with me. |
| Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy ways, that I may know Thee, to the end that I may find grace in Thy sight; and consider that this nation is Thy people.’ | Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. | Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see that this nation is your people.” |
| εἰ οὖν εὕρηκα χάριν ἐναντίον σου ἐμφάνισόν μοι σεαυτόν γνωστῶς ἴδω σε ὅπως ἂν ὦ εὑρηκὼς χάριν ἐναντίον σου καὶ ἵνα γνῶ ὅτι λαός σου τὸ ἔθνος τὸ μέγα τοῦτο | εἰ οὖν εὕρηκα χάριν ἐναντίον σου, ἐμφάνισόν μοι σεαυτὸν γνωστῶς, ἵνα ἴδω σε, ὅπως ἂν ὦ εὑρηκὼς χάριν ἐναντίον σου, καὶ ἵνα γνῶ ὅτι λαός σου τὸ ἔθνος τὸ μέγα τοῦτο |
| If then I have found favor before you, disclose yourself to me. Let me see you recognizably in order that I might find favor before you and in order that I might know that this nation is your people.” | If then I have found favour in thy sight, reveal thyself to me, that I may evidently see thee; that I may find favour in thy sight, and that I may know that this great nation [is] thy people. |
| And He said: ‘My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.’ | And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. | And the Lord said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” |
| καὶ λέγει αὐτὸς προπορεύσομαί σου καὶ καταπαύσω σε | καὶ λέγει· αὐτὸς προπορεύσομαί σου καὶ καταπαύσω σε |
| And he says, “I myself will go before you, and I will give you rest.” | And he says, I myself will go before thee, and give thee rest. |
| And he said unto Him: ‘If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. | And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. | And Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here. |
| καὶ λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν εἰ μὴ αὐτὸς σὺ πορεύῃ μή με ἀναγάγῃς ἐντεῦθεν | καὶ λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν· εἰ μὴ αὐτὸς σὺ συμπορεύῃ, μή με ἀναγάγῃς ἐντεῦθεν |
| And he says to him, “If you yourself do not go, do not lead me up from here.” | And he says to him, If thou go not up with us thyself, bring me not up hence. |
| For wherein now shall it be known that I have found grace in Thy sight, I and Thy people? is it not in that Thou goest with us, so that we are distinguished, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?’ | For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. | For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?” |
| καὶ πῶς γνωστὸν ἔσται ἀληθῶς ὅτι εὕρηκα χάριν παρὰ σοί ἐγώ τε καὶ ὁ λαός σου ἀλλ᾽ ἢ συμπορευομένου σου μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν καὶ ἐνδοξασθήσομαι ἐγώ τε καὶ ὁ λαός σου παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ὅσα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐστιν | καὶ πῶς γνωστὸν ἔσται ἀληθῶς, ὅτι εὕρηκα χάριν παρὰ σοί, ἐγώ τε καὶ ὁ λαός σου, ἀλλ᾿ ἢ συμπορευομένου σου μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν; καὶ ἐνδοξασθήσομαι ἐγώ τε καὶ ὁ λαός σου παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ὅσα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐστι |
| And how shall it be truly known that I have found favor with you, both I and your people, other than if you go along with us? And we shall be glorified, both I and your people, above all the nations that are on the earth.” | And how shall it be surely known, that both I and this people have found favour with thee, except only if thou go with us? So both I and thy people shall be glorified beyond all the nations, as many as are upon the earth. |
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Luke 10:22 (KJV) |
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| All things have been given to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.” | All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. |
| πάντα μοι παρεδόθη ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρός μου, καὶ οὐδεὶς γινώσκει τίς ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς εἰ μὴ ὁ πατήρ, καὶ τίς ἐστιν ὁ πατὴρ εἰ μὴ ὁ υἱὸς καὶ ᾧ ἐὰν βούληται ὁ υἱὸς ἀποκαλύψαι | και στραφεις προς τους μαθητας ειπεν παντα παρεδοθη μοι υπο του πατρος μου και ουδεις γινωσκει τις εστιν ο υιος ει μη ο πατηρ και τις εστιν ο πατηρ ει μη ο υιος και ω εαν βουληται ο υιος αποκαλυψαι | και στραφεις προς τους μαθητας ειπεν παντα μοι παρεδοθη υπο του πατρος μου και ουδεις γινωσκει τις εστιν ο υιος ει μη ο πατηρ και τις εστιν ο πατηρ ει μη ο υιος και ω εαν βουληται ο υιος αποκαλυψαι |
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Luke 10:24 (KJV) |
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| For I tell you that many prophets and kings longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” | For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. |
| λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ προφῆται καὶ βασιλεῖς ἠθέλησαν ἰδεῖν ἃ ὑμεῖς βλέπετε καὶ οὐκ εἶδαν, καὶ ἀκοῦσαι ἃ ἀκούετε καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν | λεγω γαρ υμιν οτι πολλοι προφηται και βασιλεις ηθελησαν ιδειν α υμεις βλεπετε και ουκ ειδον και ακουσαι α ακουετε και ουκ ηκουσαν | λεγω γαρ υμιν οτι πολλοι προφηται και βασιλεις ηθελησαν ιδειν α υμεις βλεπετε και ουκ ειδον και ακουσαι α ακουετε και ουκ ηκουσαν |
2 Exodus 32:25 (NET)
3 Exodus 32:25 (KJV)
8 Exodus 32:26, 27 (NET)
9 Exodus 32:9, 10a (NET)
15 Exodus 32:28 (NET)
16 Numbers 1:45 (NET)
17 Exodus 33:1-3a (NET)
18 Exodus 33:3b (NET)
19 Exodus 33:7-11a (NET)
20 Exodus 32:29 (NET) [Addendum 7/1/2026: Note 63 in the NET reads: “Your hand was filled.” The phrase “fill your hands” is a familiar expression having to do with commissioning and devotion to a task that is earlier used in 28:41; 29:9, 29, 33, 35. This has usually been explained as a Qal imperative. S. R. Driver explains it “Fill your hand today,” meaning, take a sacrifice to God and be installed in the priesthood (Exodus, 355). But it probably is a Piel perfect, meaning “they have filled your hands today,” or, “your hand was filled today.” This was an expression meant to say that they had been faithful to God even though it turned them against family and friends—but God would give them a blessing. (See note 64 as well.)]
21 2 Corinthians 3:8 (NET)
23 Exodus 33:12, 13 (NET)
24 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και στραφεις προς τους μαθητας ειπεν (“And having turned to the disciples, he said”) preceding this saying. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
25 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶδαν here, a form of ὁράω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειδον, a form of εἴδω or ὁράω.
26 Luke 10:22-24 (NET)
27 Exodus 33:14-16 (NET)