What Is the Golden Calf — Meaning Explained
The golden calf was the idol Aaron made for Israel while Moses was on Mount Sinai, provoking God's wrath and resulting in three thousand deaths.
The golden calf was the idol Aaron made for Israel while Moses was on Mount Sinai, provoking God's wrath and resulting in three thousand deaths.
"And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." — Exodus 32:4 (KJV)
What "What Is the Golden Calf?" Actually Means
While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets of the Law, the Israelites grew impatient. They approached Aaron and demanded, '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.' Aaron collected their gold earrings, melted them, and fashioned a molten calf. He built an altar and proclaimed, 'To morrow is a feast to the LORD.' The next day the people offered burnt offerings, ate, drank, and 'rose up to play' — likely engaging in pagan worship rituals. God told Moses what had happened and threatened to destroy the nation and start over with Moses. Moses interceded, smashed the tablets, ground the calf to powder, mixed it with water, and made Israel drink it. He called for all who were on the LORD's side to come to him; the Levites responded and killed about three thousand men. Aaron tried to excuse himself, saying the people made him do it and the calf simply came out of the fire. The golden calf is the Bible's most graphic picture of idolatry — turning the glory of God into an image of a creature, and calling it worship.
Anchor Verses (KJV)
Exodus 32:4
"And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."
Exodus 32:19-20
"And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it."
Exodus 32:28
"And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men."
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