Key Verse Spotlight
Exodus 32:21 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing-and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin "
Exodus 32:21
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
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
And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin
And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
For they said unto me, 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
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David had been driven away from Achish, the Philistine king, and now he returns to the land of Israel only to be hunted by Saul. In this chapter, David sets up his shelter in the cave of Adullam, welcomes his relatives (1 Samuel 22:1), gathers soldiers around him (1 Samuel 22:2), and moves his aged parents to a safer and quieter place (1 Samuel 22:3-4). He also has the prophet Gad for a guide and counselor (1 Samuel 22:5).
At the same time, Saul decides to keep chasing David until he finds him. He complains about his servants and Jonathan, his own son (1 Samuel 22:6-8). Then, after Doeg’s report that Ahimelech had shown kindness to David, Saul orders Ahimelech and all the priests with him, eighty-five men in all, to be killed, along with everything that belonged to them (1 Samuel 22:9-19). From that cruel slaughter, Abiathar escapes and goes to David (1 Samuel 22:20-23).
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From This Chapter
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"
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"
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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