Deuteronomy 9:20
New International Version
And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too.

New Living Translation
The LORD was so angry with Aaron that he wanted to destroy him, too. But I prayed for Aaron, and the LORD spared him.

English Standard Version
And the LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him. And I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron.

King James Bible
And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

New King James Version
And the LORD was very angry with Aaron and would have destroyed him; so I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD was also angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.

NASB 1995
“The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.

NASB 1977
“And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.

Amplified Bible
The LORD was very angry with Aaron, angry [enough] to destroy him, so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. But I prayed for Aaron at that time also.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. But I prayed for Aaron at that time also.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.

English Revised Version
And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD also became very angry with Aaron and wanted to destroy him. But at that time I prayed for Aaron, too.

Good News Translation
The LORD was also angry enough with Aaron to kill him, so I prayed for Aaron at the same time.

International Standard Version
It was as had been the case with Aaron, the LORD was very angry and about to destroy him, but I prayed for Aaron at that time.

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron.

NET Bible
The LORD was also angry enough at Aaron to kill him, but at that time I prayed for him too.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.

World English Bible
Yahweh was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH has showed Himself very angry with Aaron, to destroy him, and I also pray for Aaron at that time.

Young's Literal Translation
'And with Aaron hath Jehovah shewed himself very angry, to destroy him, and I pray also for Aaron at that time;

Smith's Literal Translation
And with Aaron Jehovah was greatly angry to destroy him: and I shall pray also for Aaron in that time.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he was exceeding angry against Aaron also, and would have destroyed him, and I prayed in like manner for him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, he became vehemently angry against Aaron, and he was willing to destroy him, and I prayed for him similarly.

New American Bible
With Aaron, too, the LORD was deeply angry, and would have destroyed him; but I prayed for Aaron also at that time.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him, but I interceded also on behalf of Aaron at that same time.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to have destroyed him; and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH raged against Aaron greatly to destroy him, and I prayed also for Aaron at that time.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Moreover the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him; and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he was angry with Aaron to destroy him utterly, and I prayed for Aaron also at that time.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Golden Calf
19For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well. 20The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron. 21And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain.…

Cross References
Exodus 32:11-14
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” ...

Exodus 32:30-32
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” / So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. / Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

Numbers 12:1-13
Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife. / “Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this. / Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth. ...

Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.

Exodus 32:19-20
As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain. / Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.

Exodus 32:21-24
“What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?” / “Do not be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil. / They told me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!’ ...

Numbers 14:13-20
But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought this people from among them. / And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. / If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, ...

Exodus 34:9
“O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”

Numbers 16:44-48
and the LORD said to Moses, / “Get away from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.” And Moses and Aaron fell facedown. / Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” ...

1 Samuel 12:19-23
They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.” / “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. / Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty. ...

1 Kings 13:6
Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

Jeremiah 15:1
Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go!

Amos 7:1-6
This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts just after the king’s harvest, as the late spring crop was coming up. / And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?” / So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said. ...

Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

Exodus 32:2-5,21,35
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…

Hebrews 7:26-28
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; …

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Aaron Angry Death Destroy Destroyed Enough Moreover Prayed Prayer Ready Shewed Time Wrath
Deuteronomy 9
1. Moses dissuades them from the opinion of their own righteousness
7. Moses reminds them of the golden calf














The LORD
This phrase refers to Yahweh, the covenantal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). In Hebrew, it is "YHWH," often vocalized as "Yahweh." This name emphasizes God's eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. In the context of Deuteronomy, it underscores the personal relationship and covenant between God and Israel, highlighting His righteous standards and expectations.

was angry enough
The Hebrew word for "angry" here is "anaph," which conveys a deep, burning wrath. This is not a capricious anger but a righteous indignation against sin. God's anger is always just and reflects His holiness and intolerance of idolatry, as seen in the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32). It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance.

with Aaron
Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first high priest of Israel. His involvement in the creation of the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6) was a significant failure in leadership. Despite his role as a spiritual leader, Aaron's actions demonstrate that even those in positions of authority are not immune to sin and its consequences. This highlights the need for accountability and the grace of God in leadership.

to destroy him
The Hebrew word "shamad" means to annihilate or exterminate. This indicates the severity of Aaron's sin and the just consequence it warranted. However, it also sets the stage for understanding the power of intercessory prayer and God's mercy. The potential destruction of Aaron underscores the gravity of idolatry and the holiness of God.

but at that time
This phrase marks a pivotal moment of divine intervention. It suggests a turning point where judgment could have been executed, but another course of action was taken. It emphasizes the immediacy and urgency of the situation, as well as the responsiveness of God to prayer.

I also prayed
Moses' intercession is a powerful example of standing in the gap for others. The Hebrew word "palal" means to intervene or mediate. Moses' prayer reflects his role as a mediator between God and the people, prefiguring the ultimate mediation of Christ. It highlights the importance of prayer in seeking God's mercy and the impact one person's faithfulness can have on others.

for Aaron
This phrase underscores the personal nature of Moses' intercession. Despite Aaron's failure, Moses' love and concern for his brother led him to plead for his life. It is a testament to the power of forgiveness and the importance of supporting one another in times of failure. It also reflects the communal aspect of faith, where the actions of one can affect the whole community.

(20) I prayed for Aaron also.--Jewish commentators ascribe the loss of Aaron's two sons (Leviticus 10:1-2) partly to God's anger at this time.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

was angry
הִתְאַנַּ֧ף (hiṯ·’an·nap̄)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 599: To breathe hard, be enraged

enough
מְאֹ֖ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

with Aaron
וּֽבְאַהֲרֹ֗ן (ū·ḇə·’a·hă·rōn)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

to destroy him,
לְהַשְׁמִיד֑וֹ (lə·haš·mî·ḏōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed

but at that
הַהִֽוא‪‬‪‬ (ha·hi·w)
Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

time
בָּעֵ֥ת (bā·‘êṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

I also
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

prayed
וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֛ל (wā·’eṯ·pal·lêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray

for
בְּעַ֥ד (bə·‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 1157: In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, for

Aaron.
אַהֲרֹ֖ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 9:20 Yahweh was very angry with Aaron (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 9:19
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