Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” New Living Translation So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!” English Standard Version So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” Berean Standard Bible So 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!” King James Bible And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. New King James Version And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.” New American Standard Bible So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ Then they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” NASB 1995 “I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” NASB 1977 “And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” Legacy Standard Bible And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” Amplified Bible I said to them, ‘Let whoever has gold [jewelry], take it off.’ So they gave it to me; then I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” Christian Standard Bible So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf! ” Holman Christian Standard Bible So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!” American Standard Version And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off: so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. Contemporary English Version Then I asked them to bring me their gold earrings. They took them off and gave them to me. I threw the gold into a fire, and out came this bull. English Revised Version And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off; so they gave it me: and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. GOD'S WORD® Translation So I told them to take off any gold they were wearing. They gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" Good News Translation I asked them to bring me their gold ornaments, and those who had any took them off and gave them to me. I threw the ornaments into the fire and out came this bull-calf!" International Standard Version So I told them, 'Whoever has gold ornaments, tear them off.' When they gave it to me, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf." NET Bible So I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out." New Heart English Bible I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them take it off:' so they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf." Webster's Bible Translation And I said to them, Whoever hath any gold, let them break it off: So they gave it to me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo 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!” World English Bible I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them take it off.’ So they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand I say to them, Whoever has gold, let them break [it] off, and they give [it] to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf comes out.” Young's Literal Translation and I say to them, Whoso hath gold, let them break it off, and they give to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf cometh out.' Smith's Literal Translation And I said to them, To whom is gold, he shall break it off. And they will give it to me, and I shall cast it into the fire and this calf will come out. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I said to them: Which of you hath any gold? and they took and brought it to me: and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out. Catholic Public Domain Version And I said to them, ‘Which of you has gold?’ And they took it and gave it to me. And I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.” New American Bible So I told them, ‘Whoever is wearing gold, take it off.’ They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.” New Revised Standard Version So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off’; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd I said to them, Whosoever has any gold bring it to me. So they brought it to me; then I cast it into the fire, and it became this calf. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they said to me, ‘Make for us gods to go before us, because this Moshe who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what happened to him.’ OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And I said unto them: Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off; so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And I said to them, If any one has golden ornaments, take them off; and they gave them me, and I cast them into the fire, and there came out this calf. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Moses Breaks the Tablets…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!” 25Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.… Cross References Deuteronomy 9:16-21 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. / So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, shattering them before your eyes. / Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger. ... Acts 7:39-41 But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. / 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.’ / At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. 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. 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 106:19-23 At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. / They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. / They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt, ... 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.” 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. 2 Kings 17:16-17 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. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. 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. ... Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 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. 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.” 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. Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Treasury of Scripture And I said to them, Whoever has any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. so they 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. Genesis 3:12,13 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat… Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? Jump to Previous Break Broke Calf Cast Fire Gold Image Jewelry Ox Tear ThrewJump to Next Break Broke Calf Cast Fire Gold Image Jewelry Ox Tear ThrewExodus 32 1. The people in the absence of Moses, caused Aaron to make a calf7. 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 So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, let him take it off,’ This phrase reflects Aaron's instruction to the Israelites to remove their gold jewelry. The context is the impatience of the Israelites as they awaited Moses' return from Mount Sinai. Gold was a common possession among the Israelites, likely acquired from the Egyptians during the Exodus (Exodus 12:35-36). The act of removing gold signifies a willingness to part with valuable possessions for idolatrous purposes, highlighting the ease with which the Israelites turned from God’s commandments. This moment foreshadows the later struggles of Israel with idolatry, as seen in 1 Kings 12:28-30 with Jeroboam's golden calves. and they gave it to me. And when I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!” Persons / Places / Events 1. AaronThe brother of Moses and the high priest of Israel. In this passage, Aaron is responsible for the creation of the golden calf, which he claims was a result of the people's demands. 2. Moses Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Moses is a central figure in the surrounding account. He is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments while the events of this verse unfold. 3. The Israelites The people of Israel, who have been led out of Egypt by Moses. They become impatient waiting for Moses and demand an idol to worship. 4. The Golden Calf An idol made by Aaron from the gold of the Israelites. It represents a significant act of disobedience and idolatry against God. 5. Mount Sinai The mountain where Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God. It is a place of divine revelation and covenant. Teaching Points The Danger of ImpatienceImpatience can lead to poor decisions and disobedience. The Israelites' impatience led them to demand an idol, showing how waiting on God's timing is crucial. Leadership Accountability Aaron's failure to stand firm against the people's demands highlights the importance of strong, godly leadership. Leaders must remain steadfast in their convictions, even under pressure. The Deceptive Nature of Sin Aaron's explanation that the calf "came out" of the fire minimizes his responsibility. Sin often involves self-deception and rationalization, which we must guard against. The Importance of Repentance The incident underscores the need for genuine repentance. Acknowledging our sins and turning back to God is essential for restoration. The Consequences of Idolatry Idolatry leads to separation from God and can have severe consequences. We must examine our lives for modern forms of idolatry and remove them. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Exodus 32:24?2. How does Aaron's response in Exodus 32:24 demonstrate a lack of leadership? 3. What can we learn about accountability from Aaron's actions in Exodus 32:24? 4. How does Exodus 32:24 connect to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? 5. How can we avoid making excuses for sin like Aaron in Exodus 32:24? 6. What steps can we take to uphold truth in challenging situations like Aaron faced? 7. How does Aaron's explanation in Exodus 32:24 challenge the concept of leadership accountability in faith? 8. What does Exodus 32:24 reveal about human nature and responsibility in the face of sin? 9. How does the golden calf incident in Exodus 32:24 reflect on idolatry's allure? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 32? 11. Why did Aaron create the golden calf for worship? 12. What does the Bible say about wearing jewelry? 13. How does Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:21-24 align or conflict with other biblical teachings on monotheism? 14. Numbers 14:18 insists that God is slow to anger yet punishes sin; how can this be consistent with the immediate, severe judgment in the same chapter? What Does Exodus 32:24 Mean So I said to themAaron speaks directly to Moses, recounting how he addressed the impatient crowd at Sinai. Earlier they had cried, “Come, make us gods” (Exodus 32:1). Aaron’s opening words show that he accepted the people’s proposal rather than standing firm for the Lord, a stark contrast with Exodus 20:3–4 where God had already forbidden idols. As the priest, Aaron should have led them toward repentance; instead, he chose accommodation (cf. James 4:17). Whoever has gold, let him take it off Aaron’s instruction sounds harmless—simply collecting jewelry—but it masked a deeper compromise. By asking for personal treasures, he involved every family in the idolatry, spreading guilt to the whole camp (see Exodus 32:2; Hosea 13:2). Notice the pattern: small acts of disobedience often precede larger ones (Luke 16:10). Gold that God intended for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:3, 8) is now diverted to fashion a false god. And they gave it to me The people quickly surrendered their earrings, revealing hearts eager to trade true worship for tangible religion. Their eagerness echoes Romans 1:23, exchanging “the glory of the immortal God for images.” Aaron’s passive wording—“they gave”—hints at blame-shifting, similar to Adam’s response in Genesis 3:12. And when I threw it into the fire Aaron minimizes his role, as though the calf appeared by accident. Yet Exodus 32:4 records that he “fashioned it with an engraving tool.” The fire here recalls God’s refining presence (Exodus 19:18), turning what should purify into an instrument of sin. Compare 1 Kings 18:24, where fire proves the true God; here it seems to produce an idol, underscoring the perversion of worship. Out came this calf! Aaron’s exclamation borders on the absurd, as if the idol birthed itself. His excuse shows the folly of sin: refusing responsibility while claiming a miracle of disobedience. Isaiah 44:15–17 mocks such idolatry—carving a god, then worshiping what one has made. Galatians 6:7 warns, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.” The calf’s emergence exposes human hearts desperate to justify rebellion. summary Exodus 32:24 reveals Aaron shifting blame, minimizing sin, and highlighting how quickly God’s people can distort His gifts into idols. The verse challenges us to own our choices, guard against small compromises, and keep treasures—especially our hearts—devoted to the Lord alone. Verse 24. - There came out this calf. Aaron speaks as if he had prepared no mould, but simply thrown the gold into the hot furnace, from which there issued forth, to his surprise, the golden calf. This was not only a suppressio veri, but a suggestio falsi. Having no even plausible defence to make, he is driven to the weakest of subterfuges. CHAPTER 32:25-29 Hebrew So I saidוָאֹמַ֤ר (wā·’ō·mar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to them, לָהֶם֙ (lā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew ‘Whoever לְמִ֣י (lə·mî) Preposition-l | Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix has gold, זָהָ֔ב (zā·hāḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky let him take it off,’ הִתְפָּרָ֖קוּ (hiṯ·pā·rā·qū) Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 6561: To break off, crunch, to deliver and they gave it וַיִּתְּנוּ־ (way·yit·tə·nū-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set to me. לִ֑י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew And when I cast it וָאַשְׁלִכֵ֣הוּ (wā·’aš·li·ḵê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away into the fire, בָאֵ֔שׁ (ḇā·’êš) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 784: A fire out came וַיֵּצֵ֖א (way·yê·ṣê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim this הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that calf!” הָעֵ֥גֶל (hā·‘ê·ḡel) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5695: A, calf, one nearly grown Links Exodus 32:24 NIVExodus 32:24 NLT Exodus 32:24 ESV Exodus 32:24 NASB Exodus 32:24 KJV Exodus 32:24 BibleApps.com Exodus 32:24 Biblia Paralela Exodus 32:24 Chinese Bible Exodus 32:24 French Bible Exodus 32:24 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 32:24 I said to them 'Whoever has any (Exo. 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