Deuteronomy Chapter 9 · Verse 12

Authorized King James Version

Study PDF

And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר said H559
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 22
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָ֜ה And the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֜ה And the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֵלַ֗י H413
אֵלַ֗י
Strong's: H413
Word #: 3 of 22
near, with or among; often in general, to
ק֣וּם unto me Arise H6965
ק֣וּם unto me Arise
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 4 of 22
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
רֵ֤ד get thee down H3381
רֵ֤ד get thee down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 5 of 22
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מַהֵ֗ר quickly H4118
מַהֵ֗ר quickly
Strong's: H4118
Word #: 6 of 22
properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
מִזֶּ֔ה H2088
מִזֶּ֔ה
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 7 of 22
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
כִּ֚י H3588
כִּ֚י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 8 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שִׁחֵ֣ת have corrupted H7843
שִׁחֵ֣ת have corrupted
Strong's: H7843
Word #: 9 of 22
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
עַמְּךָ֔ from hence for thy people H5971
עַמְּךָ֔ from hence for thy people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 10 of 22
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 11 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הוֹצֵ֖אתָ which thou hast brought forth H3318
הוֹצֵ֖אתָ which thou hast brought forth
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 12 of 22
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם out of Egypt H4714
מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם out of Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 13 of 22
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
סָ֣רוּ turned aside H5493
סָ֣רוּ turned aside
Strong's: H5493
Word #: 14 of 22
to turn off (literally or figuratively)
מַהֵ֗ר quickly H4118
מַהֵ֗ר quickly
Strong's: H4118
Word #: 15 of 22
properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 16 of 22
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ out of the way H1870
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ out of the way
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 17 of 22
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 18 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
צִוִּיתִ֔ם which I commanded H6680
צִוִּיתִ֔ם which I commanded
Strong's: H6680
Word #: 19 of 22
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
עָשׂ֥וּ them they have made H6213
עָשׂ֥וּ them they have made
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 20 of 22
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
לָהֶ֖ם H0
לָהֶ֖ם
Strong's: H0
Word #: 21 of 22
מַסֵּכָֽה׃ them a molten image H4541
מַסֵּכָֽה׃ them a molten image
Strong's: H4541
Word #: 22 of 22
properly, a pouring over, i.e., fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e., league; concretely a coverlet (as if pour

Analysis & Commentary

And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. God's words reveal both His holiness that cannot tolerate sin and His covenantal grace that distinguishes between the faithful mediator and the unfaithful people.

The command arise, get thee down quickly indicates urgent judgment. While Moses communed with God, receiving revelation for Israel's blessing, the people below were breaking the covenant through idolatry. The speed required shows the seriousness of their sin and the immediacy of God's response to covenant violation.

Notably, God says thy people which thou hast brought forth rather than 'My people.' This rhetorical distancing reveals God's righteous anger at Israel's betrayal. They have forfeited their privileged status through rebellion. Yet God's continued conversation with Moses indicates the possibility of restoration through the mediator's intercession.

The word corrupted translates a Hebrew term meaning to ruin, destroy, or act perversely. Israel has not merely made a mistake but has fundamentally perverted their covenant relationship with God through idolatry.

Historical Context

While Moses received the law on Mount Sinai, Aaron supervised construction of a golden calf at the people's demand. This represented not just generic idolatry but likely adoption of Egyptian religious practices or Canaanite Baal worship symbolized by bull imagery.

This incident revealed Israel's spiritual immaturity and the persistent temptation to syncretism - mixing worship of Yahweh with pagan religious forms.

Questions for Reflection