Exodus 32:7
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
Original Language Analysis
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר
said
H1696
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר
said
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
1 of 13
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֶךְ
H1980
לֶךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
5 of 13
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
רֵ֕ד
get thee down
H3381
רֵ֕ד
get thee down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
6 of 13
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
כִּ֚י
H3588
כִּ֚י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
7 of 13
(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 #:
8 of 13
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
עַמְּךָ֔
for thy people
H5971
עַמְּךָ֔
for thy people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
9 of 13
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 #:
10 of 13
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הֶֽעֱלֵ֖יתָ
which thou broughtest
H5927
הֶֽעֱלֵ֖יתָ
which thou broughtest
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
11 of 13
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
Cross References
Exodus 32:11And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?Deuteronomy 9:12And 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.Hosea 9:9They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.Exodus 19:24And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.Judges 2:19And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
Historical Context
This occurred while Moses was receiving the law on Sinai. God's immediate knowledge of the sin below emphasizes His omniscience and the impossibility of hiding sin from Him.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's 'your people' versus 'My people' reveal the seriousness of corporate sin?
- What does the speed of Israel's apostasy teach about human nature apart from grace?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God's command to Moses לֶךְ־רֵד (lech-red, go, get down) is abrupt and urgent. God disassociates from Israel by calling them עַמְּךָ (amcha, 'your people') rather than 'My people,' and emphasizes אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלִיתָ (asher he'elita, which you brought up) instead of acknowledging His own redemption. The verb שִׁחֵת (shichet, corrupted themselves) means to ruin utterly, to become depraved—they had destroyed their covenant relationship. The speed of their turning (מִהֲרוּ סָרוּ, miharu saru, quickly turned) reveals the human heart's instability without divine grace.