Bible/Exodus/32

Exodus 32:2

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.
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.

KJV

Save image

Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.”

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.

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

32:3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

What does Exodus 32:2 mean?

Exodus 32:2 is a verse in the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn), אָמַר (ʼâmar), פָּרַק (pâraq). It connects to 9 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
And
AaronאַהֲרוֹןʼAhărôwn/a-har-one'/H175Aharon, the brother of Moses
saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
unto
them,
Break
offפָּרַקpâraq/paw-rak'/H6561to break off or crunch; figuratively, to deliver
the
goldenזָהָבzâhâb/zaw-hawb'/H2091gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
earrings,נֶזֶםnezem/neh'-zem/H5141a nose-ring
which
are
in
the
earsאֹזֶןʼôzen/o'-zen/H241broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
of
your
wives,אִשָּׁהʼishshâh/ish-shaw'/H802a woman
of
your
sons,בֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
and
of
your
daughters,בַּתbath/bath/H1323a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
and
bringבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
them
unto
me.

Commentary on Exodus 32:2

HENRY_FULL · Exodus 32:2
It is a very lamentable interruption which the story of this chapter gives to the record of the establishment of the church, and of religion among the Jews. Things went on admirably well towards that happy settlement: God had shown himself very favourable, and the people also had seemed to be pretty tractable. Moses had now almost completed his forty days upon the mount, and, we may suppose, was pleasing himself with the thoughts of the very joyful welcome he should have to the camp of Israel at his return, and the speedy setting up of the tabernacle among them. But, behold, the measures are broken, the sin of Israel turns away those good things from them, and puts a stop to the current of God's favours; the sin that did the mischief (would you think it?) was worshipping a golden calf. The marriage was ready to be solemnized between God and Israel, but Israel plays the harlot, and so the match is broken, and it will be no easy matter to piece it again. Here is, I. The sin of Israel, and of Aaron particularly, in making the golden calf for a god ( ver. 1-4 ), and worshipping it, ver. 5, 6 . II. The notice which God gave of this to Moses, who was now in the mount with him, ( ver. 7, 8 ), and the sentence of his wrath against them, ver. 9, 10 . III. The intercession which Moses immediately made for them in the mount ( ver. 11-13 ), and the prevalency of that intercession, ver. 14 . IV. His coming down from the mount, when he became an eye-witness of their idolatry ( ver. 15-19 ), in abhorrence of which, and as an expression of just indignation, he broke the tables ( ver. 19 ), and burnt the golden calf, ver. 20 . V. The examination of Aaron about it, ver. 21-24 . VI. Execution done upon the ring-leaders in the idolatry, ver. 25-29 . VII. The further intercession Moses made for them, to turn away the wrath of God from them ( ver. 30-32 ), and a reprieve granted thereupon, reserving them for a further reckoning, ver. 33 , &c. The Golden Calf. ( b. c. 1491.)

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 24:22

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; earring: or, jewel for the forehead

Genesis 24:47

And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

Exodus 12:35

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

Exodus 12:36

And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

Judges 8:24

And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

Ezekiel 16:11

I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

Ezekiel 16:12

And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. forehead: Heb. nose

Ezekiel 16:17

Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them, of men: Heb. of a male

Hosea 2:8

For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. wine: Heb. new wine which: or, wherewith they made Baal

Topics

IdolatryOffenceQuotations and Allusions

People & places in this verse

People

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Exodus 32:2.

Exodus 32:3

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

Genesis 3:16

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. to thy: or, subject to thy husband

Exodus 11:2

Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

Genesis 2:23

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Woman: Heb. Isha Man: Heb. Ish

Genesis 24:22

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; earring: or, jewel for the forehead

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Yea: Heb. Yea, because, etc.

Genesis 3:12

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:13

And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 32:2 say?

Exodus 32:2 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Exodus 32:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Exodus 32:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Exodus.

Reflect

As you read Exodus 32:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Exodus 32:2
32:1Read all of Exodus 3232:3