Exodus 32:23
New International Version
They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’

New Living Translation
They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’

English Standard Version
For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

Berean Standard Bible
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!’

King James Bible
For they said unto me, 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.

New King James Version
For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

New American Standard Bible
For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’

NASB 1995
“For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

NASB 1977
“For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

Legacy Standard Bible
Indeed they said to me, ‘Make gods for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

Amplified Bible
For they said to me, ‘Make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

Christian Standard Bible
They said to me, ‘Make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him! ’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They said to me, ‘Make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’

American Standard Version
For they said unto me, 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 know not what is become of him.

Contemporary English Version
They even told me, "That man Moses led us out of Egypt, but now we don't know what has happened to him. Make us a god to lead us."

English Revised Version
For they said unto me, 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 know not what is become of him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They said to me, 'We don't know what's happened to this Moses who brought us out of Egypt. Make gods for us. They will lead us.'

Good News Translation
They said to me, 'We don't know what has happened to this man Moses, who brought us out of Egypt; so make us a god to lead us.'

International Standard Version
They told me, 'Make a god for us who will go before us because, as for this fellow Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him.'

Majority Standard Bible
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!?

NET Bible
They said to me, 'Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this fellow Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.'

New Heart English Bible
For they said to me, 'Make us gods, which shall go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'

Webster's Bible Translation
For they said to me, Make us gods which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.

World English Bible
For they said to me, ‘Make us gods, which shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they say to me, Make gods for us, who go before us, for this Moses—the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt—we have not known what has happened to him;

Young's Literal Translation
and they say to me, Make for us gods, who go before us, for this Moses -- the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt -- we have not known what hath happened to him;

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say to me; Make to us gods which shall go before us: for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we knew not what was to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They said to me: Make us gods, that may go before us: for as to this Moses, who brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is befallen him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They said to me: ‘Make gods for us, who may go before us. For this Moses, who led us away from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has befallen him.’

New American Bible
They said to me, ‘Make us a god to go before us; as for this man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’

New Revised Standard Version
They said to me, ‘Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For they said to me, Make us gods that they shall go before us; as for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Ahron said, “Let not the wrath of my Lord be hot; you know this people is evil.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So they said unto me: Make us a god, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For they say to me, Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this man Moses, who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what is become of him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Breaks the Tablets
22“Do not be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil. 23They 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!’ 24So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let him take it off,’ and they gave it to me. And when I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 9:16
And I saw how you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you.

Acts 7:40
They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’

Nehemiah 9:18
Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies,

Psalm 106:19-20
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. / They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

2 Kings 17:16
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

Hosea 8:4-6
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

1 Corinthians 10:7
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”

Romans 1:23
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Isaiah 44:9-20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...

Jeremiah 10:3-5
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

2 Chronicles 11:15
And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 23:8
She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,


Treasury of Scripture

For they said to me, 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 know not what is become of him.

Exodus 32:1-4,8
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…

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Egypt Fellow Gods Idea Moses Wot
Exodus 32
1. The people in the absence of Moses, caused Aaron to make a calf
7. God informs Moses, who intercedes for Israel, and prevails
15. Moses comes down with the tablets
19. He breaks them
20. He destroys the calf
22. Aaron's excuse for himself
25. Moses causes the idolaters to be slain
30. He prays for the people














They said to me
This phrase introduces the speaker, Aaron, who is recounting the demands of the Israelites. The context here is crucial; Aaron is attempting to justify his actions to Moses. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is a common verb used throughout the Old Testament to denote speech or communication. This highlights the directness and authority with which the Israelites approached Aaron, reflecting their collective urgency and desperation in Moses' absence.

Make a god for us
The request to "make a god" reveals the Israelites' desire for a tangible representation of deity, which was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The Hebrew word for "god" here is "אֱלֹהִים" (elohim), which can mean "god" or "gods" depending on the context. This reflects a significant theological error, as the Israelites were seeking to replace the invisible, omnipotent God who had delivered them from Egypt with a physical idol, contrary to the commandments they had received.

who will go before us
This phrase indicates the Israelites' need for guidance and leadership. The Hebrew root "הָלַךְ" (halak) means "to walk" or "to go," suggesting a leader who would lead them physically and spiritually. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' fear and uncertainty in the wilderness, as they were accustomed to visible leadership and assurance, first from Moses and now seeking it from an idol.

As for this Moses
The use of "this Moses" shows a dismissive and perhaps derogatory attitude towards Moses, who had been their leader and mediator. The phrase suggests a sense of abandonment and disillusionment with Moses, who had been on Mount Sinai for an extended period. This reflects a lack of faith and patience among the Israelites, who quickly turned to idolatry in Moses' absence.

who brought us up out of the land of Egypt
This acknowledges Moses' role in their deliverance, yet it also underscores their forgetfulness of God's ultimate power and providence. The Hebrew verb "עָלָה" (alah) means "to go up" or "to ascend," emphasizing the miraculous nature of their exodus from Egypt. This phrase serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness, which the Israelites were quick to overlook in their current crisis.

we do not know what has happened to him
This statement reveals the Israelites' uncertainty and fear. The Hebrew root "יָדַע" (yada) means "to know," indicating a lack of knowledge or understanding. Their impatience and lack of trust in God's plan led them to seek immediate solutions, even if it meant violating their covenant with God. This reflects a broader theme in Scripture of human tendency to doubt and stray from faith in times of uncertainty.

Verse 23. - Make us gods. Rather "Make us a god."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They told
וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

me,
לִ֔י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

‘Make
עֲשֵׂה־ (‘ă·śêh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

us
לָ֣נוּ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

gods
אֱלֹהִ֔ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

who
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

will go
יֵלְכ֖וּ (yê·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

before us.
לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ (lə·p̄ā·nê·nū)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 6440: The face

As for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this
זֶ֣ה ׀ (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֣ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

who
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

brought us up
הֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙ (he·‘ĕ·lā·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

out of the land
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt,
מִצְרַ֔יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

we do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
יָדַ֖עְנוּ (yā·ḏa‘·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

what
מֶה־ (meh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

has happened
הָ֥יָה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

to him!’
לֽוֹ׃ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Exodus 32:23 For they said to me 'Make us (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 32:22
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