Exodus 32:20 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt {it} in the fire, and ground {it} to powder, and strawed {it} upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink {of it}.”

Exodus 32:20

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And he said, {It is} not the voice of {them that} shout for mastery, neither {is it} the voice of {them that} cry for being overcome: {but} the noise of {them that} sing do I hear. {being...: Heb. weakness}

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt {it} in the fire, and ground {it} to powder, and strawed {it} upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink {of it}.

And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they {are set} on mischief.

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Exodus 32:1

"And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for {as for} this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him."

Exodus 32:2

"And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which {are} in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring {them} unto me."

Exodus 32:3

"And all the people brake off the golden earrings which {were} in their ears, and brought {them} unto Aaron."

Exodus 32:4

"And he received {them} at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These {be} thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

Exodus 32:5

"And when Aaron saw {it}, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow {is} a feast to the LORD."

Exodus 32:6

"And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play."

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