The Golden Calf
(Deuteronomy 9:7–29; Acts 7:39–43)

1  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) הָעָ֔ם (the people) כִּֽי־ (that) בֹשֵׁ֥שׁ (delayed) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) לָרֶ֣דֶת (to come down) מִן־ (from) הָהָ֑ר (the mountain), וַיִּקָּהֵ֨ל (and gathered together) הָעָ֜ם (the people) עַֽל־ (against) אַהֲרֹ֗ן (Aaron), וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (and they said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him), ק֣וּם׀ (Arise), עֲשֵׂה־ (make) לָ֣נוּ (for us) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (gods), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) יֵֽלְכוּ֙ (will go) לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ (before our faces). כִּי־ (For) זֶ֣ה׀ (this) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses), הָאִ֗ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) הֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙ (brought us up) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), לֹ֥א (not) יָדַ֖עְנוּ (we do know) מֶה־ (what) הָ֥יָה (has become) לֽוֹ׃ (of him).

2  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron), פָּֽרְקוּ֙ (Break off) נִזְמֵ֣י (rings) הַזָּהָ֔ב (the golden) אֲשֶׁר֙ (that are) בְּאָזְנֵ֣י (in the ears) נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם (of your⁺ wives), בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ sons), וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (and your⁺ daughters), וְהָבִ֖יאוּ (and bring them) אֵלָֽי׃ (to me).

3  וַיִּתְפָּֽרְקוּ֙ (And broke off) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֶת־ (-) נִזְמֵ֥י (rings) הַזָּהָ֖ב (the golden) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that were) בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑ם (in their ears), וַיָּבִ֖יאוּ (and brought them) אֶֽל־ (to) אַהֲרֹֽן׃ (Aaron). 4  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And he took it) מִיָּדָ֗ם (from their hand), וַיָּ֤צַר (and he fashioned) אֹתוֹ֙ (it) בַּחֶ֔רֶט (with an engraving tool), וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ (and he made) עֵ֣גֶל (a calf) מַסֵּכָ֑ה (molten). וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), אֵ֤לֶּה (These are) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your gods), יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (O Israel), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) הֶעֱל֖וּךָ (brought you up) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt)!

5  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron), וַיִּ֥בֶן (and he built) מִזְבֵּ֖חַ (an altar) לְפָנָ֑יו (before its face). וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And proclaimed) אַֽהֲרֹן֙ (Aaron) וַיֹּאמַ֔ר (and said), חַ֥ג (A feast) לַיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH) מָחָֽר׃ (tomorrow is).

6  וַיַּשְׁכִּ֙ימוּ֙ (And they rose early) מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת (on the next day), וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (and they offered) עֹלֹ֔ת (burnt offerings), וַיַּגִּ֖שׁוּ (and they brought near) שְׁלָמִ֑ים (peace offerings); וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב (and sat down) הָעָם֙ (the people) לֶֽאֱכֹ֣ל (to eat) וְשָׁת֔וֹ (and to drink), וַיָּקֻ֖מוּ (and they rose up) לְצַחֵֽק׃פ (to play).

7  וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And said) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses), לֶךְ־ (Go), רֵ֕ד (descend); כִּ֚י (for) שִׁחֵ֣ת (have corrupted themselves) עַמְּךָ֔ (your people), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֶעֱלֵ֖יתָ (you brought up) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt). 8  סָ֣רוּ (They have turned aside) מַהֵ֗ר (quickly) מִן־ (from) הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (the way) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) צִוִּיתִ֔ם (I commanded them)! עָשׂ֣וּ (They have made) לָהֶ֔ם (for themselves) עֵ֖גֶל (a calf) מַסֵּכָ֑ה (molten), וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ (and they have bowed down) לוֹ֙ (to it) וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־ (and they have sacrificed) ל֔וֹ (to it) וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and they have said), אֵ֤לֶּה (These are) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your gods), יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (O Israel), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) הֶֽעֱל֖וּךָ (brought you up) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt)!

9  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses), רָאִ֙יתִי֙ (I have seen) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), עַם־ (a people) קְשֵׁה־ (stiff) עֹ֖רֶף (necked) הֽוּא׃ (it is). 10  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) הַנִּ֣יחָה (let alone) לִּ֔י (to Me), וְיִֽחַר־ (and may burn hot) אַפִּ֥י (My anger) בָהֶ֖ם (against them), וַאֲכַלֵּ֑ם (and I may consume them) וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה (and I will make) אוֹתְךָ֖ (you) לְג֥וֹי (into a nation) גָּדֽוֹל׃ (great).

11  וַיְחַ֣ל (And pleaded) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֖י (the face) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהָ֑יו (his God), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), לָמָ֤ה (Why) יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), יֶחֱרֶ֤ה (does burn hot) אַפְּךָ֙ (Your anger) בְּעַמֶּ֔ךָ (against Your people), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (whom) הוֹצֵ֙אתָ֙ (You have brought out) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), בְּכֹ֥חַ (with power) גָּד֖וֹל (great) וּבְיָ֥ד (and with a hand) חֲזָקָֽה׃ (mighty)? 12  לָמָּה֩ (Why) יֹאמְר֨וּ (should speak) מִצְרַ֜יִם (Egypt) לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), בְּרָעָ֤ה (In evil) הֽוֹצִיאָם֙ (He brought them out), לַהֲרֹ֤ג (to kill) אֹתָם֙ (them) בֶּֽהָרִ֔ים (in the mountains), וּ֨לְכַלֹּתָ֔ם (and to consume them) מֵעַ֖ל (from) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה (of the earth)? שׁ֚וּב (And turn) מֵחֲר֣וֹן (from burning) אַפֶּ֔ךָ (Your anger) וְהִנָּחֵ֥ם (and relent) עַל־ (over) הָרָעָ֖ה (the evil) לְעַמֶּֽךָ׃ (against Your people). 13  זְכֹ֡ר (Remember) לְאַבְרָהָם֩ (Abraham), לְיִצְחָ֨ק (Isaac), וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (and Israel), עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ (Your servants) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (whom) נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתָּ (You swore) לָהֶם֮ (to them) בָּךְ֒ (by Yourself) וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר (and You said) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), אַרְבֶּה֙ (I will multiply) אֶֽת־ (-) זַרְעֲכֶ֔ם (your⁺ seed) כְּכוֹכְבֵ֖י (as the stars) הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (of the heavens), וְכָל־ (and all) הָאָ֨רֶץ (the land) הַזֹּ֜את (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אָמַ֗רְתִּי (I have said), אֶתֵּן֙ (I give) לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם (to your⁺ seed), וְנָחֲל֖וּ (and they shall inherit it) לְעֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

14  וַיִּנָּ֖חֶם (And relented) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) עַל־ (from) הָ֣רָעָ֔ה (the evil) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) דִּבֶּ֖ר (He spoke) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to do) לְעַמּֽוֹ׃פ (to His people).

15  וַיִּ֜פֶן (And turned) וַיֵּ֤רֶד (and he went down) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) מִן־ (from) הָהָ֔ר (the mountain), וּשְׁנֵ֛י (and the two) לֻחֹ֥ת (tablets) הָעֵדֻ֖ת (of the Testimony were) בְּיָד֑וֹ (in his hand). לֻחֹ֗ת (The tablets) כְּתֻבִים֙ (were written) מִשְּׁנֵ֣י (on their two) עֶבְרֵיהֶ֔ם (sides), מִזֶּ֥ה (on this) וּמִזֶּ֖ה (and on that) הֵ֥ם (they) כְּתֻבִֽים׃ (were written). 16  וְהַ֨לֻּחֹ֔ת (And the tablets) מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה (the work) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) הֵ֑מָּה (they were), וְהַמִּכְתָּ֗ב (and the writing) מִכְתַּ֤ב (the writing) אֱלֹהִים֙ (of God); ה֔וּא (it was) חָר֖וּת (engraved) עַל־ (on) הַלֻּחֹֽת׃ (the tablets).

17  וַיִּשְׁמַ֧ע (And heard) יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ (Joshua) אֶת־ (-) ק֥וֹל (the voice) הָעָ֖ם (of the people) בְּרֵעֹ֑ה (in their shouting), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), ק֥וֹל (A voice) מִלְחָמָ֖ה (of war) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶה׃ (is in the camp).

18  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said),

אֵ֥ין (It is not) קוֹל֙ (a voice) עֲנ֣וֹת (of responses) גְּבוּרָ֔ה (of might), וְאֵ֥ין (and it is not) ק֖וֹל (a voice) עֲנ֣וֹת (of responses) חֲלוּשָׁ֑ה (of weakness);

ק֣וֹל (a voice) עַנּ֔וֹת (of singing) אָנֹכִ֖י (I) שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃ (hear).

19  וַֽיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (as soon as) קָרַב֙ (he came near) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (the camp), וַיַּ֥רְא (that he saw) אֶת־ (-) הָעֵ֖גֶל (the calf) וּמְחֹלֹ֑ת (and the dancing); וַיִּֽחַר־ (and burned) אַ֣ף (the anger) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (of Moses), וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ (and he cast) מִיָּדוֹ (from his hands) אֶת־ (-) הַלֻּחֹ֔ת (the tablets) וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר (and he shattered) אֹתָ֖ם (them) תַּ֥חַת (at the base) הָהָֽר׃ (of the mountain). 20  וַיִּקַּ֞ח (And he took) אֶת־ (-) הָעֵ֨גֶל (the calf) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) עָשׂוּ֙ (they had made), וַיִּשְׂרֹ֣ף (and he burned it) בָּאֵ֔שׁ (in the fire), וַיִּטְחַ֖ן (and he ground it) עַ֣ד (until) אֲשֶׁר־ (it was) דָּ֑ק (powder), וַיִּ֙זֶר֙ (and he scattered it) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַמַּ֔יִם (of the waters) וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ (and made drink it) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

21  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) אֶֽל־ (to) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron), מֶֽה־ (What) עָשָׂ֥ה (did do) לְךָ֖ (to you) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), כִּֽי־ (that) הֵבֵ֥אתָ (you have brought) עָלָ֖יו (upon them) חֲטָאָ֥ה (a sin) גְדֹלָֽה׃ (great)?

22  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron), אַל־ (Not) יִ֥חַר (let burn) אַ֖ף (the anger) אֲדֹנִ֑י (of my lord). אַתָּה֙ (You) יָדַ֣עְתָּ (have known) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people), כִּ֥י (that) בְרָ֖ע (in evil) הֽוּא׃ (it is). 23  וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (And they said) לִ֔י (to me), עֲשֵׂה־ (Make) לָ֣נוּ (for us) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (gods) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יֵלְכ֖וּ (shall go) לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ (before our faces). כִּי־ (As for) זֶ֣ה׀ (this) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses), הָאִ֗ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) הֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙ (brought us up) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), לֹ֥א (not) יָדַ֖עְנוּ (we do know) מֶה־ (what) הָ֥יָה (has become) לֽוֹ׃ (of him).

24  וָאֹמַ֤ר (And I said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) לְמִ֣י (Whoever) זָהָ֔ב (has gold), הִתְפָּרָ֖קוּ (let them break it off). וַיִּתְּנוּ־ (And they gave it) לִ֑י (to me), וָאַשְׁלִכֵ֣הוּ (and I cast it) בָאֵ֔שׁ (into the fire), וַיֵּצֵ֖א (and came out) הָעֵ֥גֶל (the calf) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

25  וַיַּ֤רְא (And saw) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people) כִּ֥י (that) פָרֻ֖עַ (unrestrained) ה֑וּא (they were)— כִּֽי־ (for) פְרָעֹ֣ה (had not restrained them) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron), לְשִׁמְצָ֖ה (unto derision) בְּקָמֵיהֶֽם׃ (among their enemies). 26  וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד (And stood) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) בְּשַׁ֣עַר (in the entrance) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (of the camp), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), מִ֥י (Who is) לַיהוָ֖ה (for YHWH) אֵלָ֑י (come to me)?

וַיֵּאָסְפ֥וּ (And gathered themselves together) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) כָּל־ (all) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) לֵוִֽי׃ (of Levi).

27  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָהֶ֗ם (to them), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), שִׂ֥ימוּ (Put) אִישׁ־ (each man) חַרְבּ֖וֹ (his sword) עַל־ (on) יְרֵכ֑וֹ (his side), עִבְר֨וּ (pass over) וָשׁ֜וּבוּ (and turn back) מִשַּׁ֤עַר (from gate) לָשַׁ֙עַר֙ (to gate) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (throughout the camp), וְהִרְג֧וּ (and kill) אִֽישׁ־ (each man) אֶת־ (-) אָחִ֛יו (his brother), וְאִ֥ישׁ (and each man) אֶת־ (-) רֵעֵ֖הוּ (his companion), וְאִ֥ישׁ (and each man) אֶת־ (-) קְרֹבֽוֹ׃ (his neighbor).

28  וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֥וּ (And did) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) לֵוִ֖י (of Levi) כִּדְבַ֣ר (according to the word) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (of Moses), וַיִּפֹּ֤ל (and fell) מִן־ (of) הָעָם֙ (the people) בַּיּ֣וֹם (in day) הַה֔וּא (that) כִּשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (about three) אַלְפֵ֖י (thousand) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

29  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses), מִלְא֨וּ (Fill) יֶדְכֶ֤ם (your⁺ hand) הַיּוֹם֙ (today) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (for YHWH)— כִּ֛י (for) אִ֥ישׁ (each man) בִּבְנ֖וֹ (is against his son) וּבְאָחִ֑יו (and against his brother)— וְלָתֵ֧ת (that He may bestow) עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם (on you⁺) הַיּ֖וֹם (this day) בְּרָכָֽה׃ (a blessing).

30  וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת (on the next day), וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (that said) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֔ם (the people), אַתֶּ֥ם (You⁺) חֲטָאתֶ֖ם (you⁺ have sinned) חֲטָאָ֣ה (a sin) גְדֹלָ֑ה (great). וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה (I will go up) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH); אוּלַ֥י (perhaps) אֲכַפְּרָ֖ה (I may make atonement) בְּעַ֥ד (for) חַטַּאתְכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ sin).

31  וַיָּ֧שָׁב (And returned) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), אָ֣נָּ֗א (Oh), חָטָ֞א (has sinned) הָעָ֤ם (the people) הַזֶּה֙ (this) חֲטָאָ֣ה (a sin) גְדֹלָ֔ה (great), וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֥וּ (and they have made) לָהֶ֖ם (for themselves) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (gods) זָהָֽב׃ (of gold). 32  וְעַתָּ֖ה (And now), אִם־ (if) תִּשָּׂ֣א (You will forgive) חַטָּאתָ֑ם (their sin)... וְאִם־ (And if) אַ֕יִן (not) מְחֵ֣נִי (blot me out) נָ֔א (please), מִֽסִּפְרְךָ֖ (from Your book) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) כָּתָֽבְתָּ׃ (You have written).

33  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses), מִ֚י (Whoever) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (-) חָֽטָא־ (has sinned) לִ֔י (against Me), אֶמְחֶ֖נּוּ (I will blot him out) מִסִּפְרִֽי׃ (from My book). 34  וְעַתָּ֞ה (And now) לֵ֣ךְ׀ (go), נְחֵ֣ה (lead) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֗ם (the people) אֶ֤ל (to the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (of which) דִּבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ (I have spoken) לָ֔ךְ (to you). הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), מַלְאָכִ֖י (My angel) יֵלֵ֣ךְ (shall go) לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (before your face). וּבְי֣וֹם (And in the day) פָּקְדִ֔י (of My charging), וּפָקַדְתִּ֥י (and I will charge) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (upon them) חַטָּאתָֽם׃ (their sin).

35  וַיִּגֹּ֥ף (And struck) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֑ם (the people), עַ֚ל (because) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (of what) עָשׂ֣וּ (they made) אֶת־ (-) הָעֵ֔גֶל (the calf) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (had made) אַהֲרֹֽן׃ס (Aaron).