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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 32:5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/32-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/02_Exo_32_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 32:5 - The Golden Calf" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/32-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/32-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/32.htm">Chapter 32</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm" title="Exodus 32:4">◄</a> Exodus 32:5 <a href="/exodus/32-6.htm" title="Exodus 32:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/32.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/32.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, &#8220Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/32.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/32.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/32.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/32.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And when Aaron saw <i>it</i>, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow <i>is</i> a feast to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/32.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So when Aaron saw <i>it,</i> he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow <i>is</i> a feast to the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/32.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now when Aaron saw <i>this,</i> he built an altar in front of it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow <i>shall be</i> a feast to the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/32.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, &#8220Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/32.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now when Aaron saw <i>this,</i> he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow <i>shall be</i> a feast to the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/32.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Aaron looked and built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow <i>shall be</i> a feast to Yahweh.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/32.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now when Aaron saw the molten calf, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/32.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and made an announcement: “There will be a festival to the LORD tomorrow.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/32.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; then he made an announcement: &#8220There will be a festival to the LORD tomorrow.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/32.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow shall be a feast to Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/32.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When Aaron saw what was happening, he built an altar in front of the idol and said, "Tomorrow we will celebrate in honor of the LORD." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/32.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/32.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival in the LORD's honor."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/32.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then Aaron built an altar in front of the gold bull-calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to honor the LORD." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/32.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it, and then he proclaimed, "Tomorrow is to be a festival to the LORD." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/32.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: ?Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/32.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow will be a feast to the LORD."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/32.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/32.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow is a feast to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/32.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/32.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Aaron sees, and builds an altar before it, and Aaron calls, and says, “A festival to YHWH—tomorrow”;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/32.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Aaron seeth, and buildeth an altar before it, and Aaron calleth, and saith, 'A festival to Jehovah -- to-morrow;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/32.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Aaron will see, and he will build an altar before it; and Aaron will call and say, A festival to Jehovah tomorrow.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/32.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and made proclamation by a crier's voice, saying: To morrow is the solemnity of the Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/32.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And when Aaron had seen it, he built an altar before it, and he cried out with a voice of proclamation, saying, “Tomorrow is the solemnity of the Lord.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/32.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />On seeing this, Aaron built an altar in front of the calf and proclaimed, “Tomorrow is a feast of the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/32.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/32.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Aaron was afraid, and he built an altar before it; then Aaron made a proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/32.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he took it from them and fashioned it in a figure and he made it a calf that was molten and they said, “This is your God, Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/32.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said: 'To-morrow shall be a feast to the LORD.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/32.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Aaron having seen it built an altar before it, and Aaron made proclamation saying, To-morrow <i>is</i> a feast of the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/32-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=8248" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/32.htm">The Golden Calf</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">4</span>He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/175.htm" title="175: ’a·hă·rōn (N-proper-ms) -- An elder brother of Moses. Of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses.">When Aaron</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: way·yar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">saw this,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1129.htm" title="1129: way·yi·ḇen (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To build. A primitive root; to build.">he built</a> <a href="/hebrew/4196.htm" title="4196: miz·bê·aḥ (N-ms) -- An altar. From zabach; an altar.">an altar</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lə·p̄ā·nāw (Prep-l:: N-cpc:: 3ms) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before the calf</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: way·yiq·rā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">and proclaimed:</a> <a href="/hebrew/175.htm" title="175: ’a·hă·rōn (N-proper-ms) -- An elder brother of Moses. Of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses."></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4279.htm" title="4279: mā·ḥār (Adv) -- Tomorrow, in time to come. Probably from 'achar; properly, deferred, i.e. The morrow; usually tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter.">“Tomorrow</a> <a href="/hebrew/2282.htm" title="2282: ḥaḡ (N-ms) -- A festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast. Or chag; from chagag; a festival, or a victim therefor.">shall be a feast</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">to the LORD.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-16.htm">Deuteronomy 9:16</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18</a></span><br />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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-19.htm">Psalm 106:19-20</a></span><br />At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. / They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-41.htm">Acts 7:41</a></span><br />At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-7.htm">1 Corinthians 10:7</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-17.htm">Deuteronomy 32:17</a></span><br />They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/10-20.htm">2 Kings 10:20</a></span><br />And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/11-15.htm">2 Chronicles 11:15</a></span><br />And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/8-5.htm">Hosea 8:5-6</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-2.htm">Hosea 13:2</a></span><br />Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm">Isaiah 44:15-17</a></span><br />It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread. He also fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. / He burns half of it in the fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. Indeed, he warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” / From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-5</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-39.htm">Ezekiel 20:39</a></span><br />And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-39.htm">Ezekiel 23:39</a></span><br />On the very day they slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary to profane it. Yes, they did this inside My house.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">Aaron</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/14-35.htm">1 Samuel 14:35</a></b></br> And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/16-11.htm">2 Kings 16:11</a></b></br> And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made <i>it</i> against king Ahaz came from Damascus.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11,14</a></b></br> Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin… </p><p class="hdg">made proclamation</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/23-2.htm">Leviticus 23:2,4,21,37</a></b></br> Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, <i>Concerning</i> the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim <i>to be</i> holy convocations, <i>even</i> these <i>are</i> my feasts… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/21-9.htm">1 Kings 21:9</a></b></br> And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/10-20.htm">2 Kings 10:20</a></b></br> And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed <i>it</i>.</p><p class="hdg">a feast</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Exodus 32:4</a></b></br> And he received <i>them</i> at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These <i>be</i> thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/10-9.htm">Exodus 10:9</a></b></br> And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we <i>must hold</i> a feast unto the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/12-14.htm">Exodus 12:14</a></b></br> And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/32-3.htm">Aaron</a> <a href="/exodus/31-9.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm">Announced</a> <a href="/exodus/24-4.htm">Built</a> <a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Calf</a> <a href="/exodus/23-18.htm">Feast</a> <a href="/exodus/23-18.htm">Festival</a> <a href="/exodus/30-36.htm">Front</a> <a href="/exodus/19-10.htm">Morrow</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-19.htm">Proclamation</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-33.htm">Public</a> <a href="/exodus/23-1.htm">Statement</a> <a href="/exodus/19-10.htm">Tomorrow</a> <a href="/exodus/19-10.htm">To-Morrow</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/32-21.htm">Aaron</a> <a href="/exodus/35-15.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-44.htm">Announced</a> <a href="/numbers/13-22.htm">Built</a> <a href="/exodus/32-8.htm">Calf</a> <a href="/exodus/32-6.htm">Feast</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-41.htm">Festival</a> <a href="/exodus/32-15.htm">Front</a> <a href="/exodus/32-6.htm">Morrow</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-21.htm">Proclamation</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-1.htm">Public</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-5.htm">Statement</a> <a href="/numbers/11-18.htm">Tomorrow</a> <a href="/numbers/14-25.htm">To-Morrow</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 32</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-1.htm">The people in the absence of Moses, caused Aaron to make a calf</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-7.htm">God informs Moses, who intercedes for Israel, and prevails</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-15.htm">Moses comes down with the tablets</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-19.htm">He breaks them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-20.htm">He destroys the calf</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-22.htm">Aaron's excuse for himself</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-25.htm">Moses causes the idolaters to be slain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">30. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/32-30.htm">He prays for the people</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/32.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/32.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>When Aaron saw this</b><br>Aaron, the brother of Moses and the high priest, observed the people's idolatrous behavior. This moment highlights his leadership failure, as he succumbs to the pressure of the Israelites. The context is the Israelites' impatience during Moses' prolonged absence on Mount Sinai, leading them to demand a tangible god.<p><b>he built an altar before the calf</b><br>The construction of an altar signifies a formal act of worship, which in this case is directed towards the golden calf, an idol. This act is reminiscent of pagan practices in Egypt, where Aaron and the Israelites had lived for centuries. The altar's presence indicates a misguided attempt to legitimize the worship of the calf as a divine entity.<p><b>and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”</b><br>Aaron's proclamation suggests a syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with idolatrous practices. The term "LORD" (Yahweh) is used, indicating Aaron's intention to associate the feast with the God of Israel, despite the presence of the idol. This reflects a misunderstanding of God's commandments, particularly the prohibition against idolatry (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-5</a>). The feast mirrors the cultural practices of surrounding nations, where feasts were common in idol worship. This event foreshadows future instances of Israel's struggle with idolatry and highlights the need for true worship as outlined in the law given to Moses.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/aaron.htm">Aaron</a></b><br>The brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. In this passage, he plays a pivotal role in the creation of the golden calf and the subsequent idolatrous worship.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_golden_calf.htm">The Golden Calf</a></b><br>An idol made by the Israelites while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. It represents a significant act of disobedience and idolatry.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The mountain where Moses received the Law from God. It is a place of divine revelation and covenant.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who were delivered from Egypt. At this point, they are demonstrating a lack of faith and patience, leading to idolatry.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_feast.htm">The Feast</a></b><br>Aaron declares a feast to the LORD, which is a misguided attempt to blend the worship of Yahweh with idolatrous practices.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_impatience.htm">The Danger of Impatience</a></b><br>The Israelites' impatience led them to idolatry. We must learn to wait on God's timing and trust His plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/compromise_in_worship.htm">Compromise in Worship</a></b><br>Aaron's attempt to mix true worship with idolatry shows the danger of compromising our faith. True worship requires purity and devotion to God alone.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_responsibility.htm">Leadership Responsibility</a></b><br>Aaron's failure as a leader highlights the importance of strong, godly leadership. Leaders must guide their people in truth and righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_deceptiveness_of_idolatry.htm">The Deceptiveness of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry can take many forms, not just physical idols. We must guard our hearts against anything that takes the place of God in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>Despite their sin, God offers forgiveness and restoration. We must be willing to repent and turn back to Him when we fall.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_32.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 32</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_aaron_make_the_golden_calf.htm">Why did Aaron create the golden calf for worship?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_exodus_32_align_with_aaron's_role.htm">How does the portrayal of Aaron’s role in Exodus 32 align with other biblical depictions of him, and does it reveal inconsistencies across different texts?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_moses_confronting_pharaoh.htm">Exodus 5:1: Where is the historical or archaeological evidence of Moses confronting an Egyptian Pharaoh as described?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_a_high_sabbath.htm">What lessons does the story of Moses and Aaron teach?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/32.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">Aaron . . . built an altar before it.</span>--Having once yielded to the popular cry. Aaron was carried on from one compliance to another. He caused the mould to be made for the idol, and the gold to be melted and run into it; and now he constructed, perhaps with his own hands, an altar of rough stones or turf (<a href="/context/exodus/20-24.htm" title="An altar of earth you shall make to me, and shall sacrifice thereon your burnt offerings, and your peace offerings, your sheep, and your oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come to you, and I will bless you.">Exodus 20:24-25</a>), and placed it directly in front of the Image, thus encouraging the offering of sacrifice to it. Perhaps he flattered himself that by heading the movement he could control it, and hinder it from becoming downright apostacy from Jehovah. In his view no doubt the calf was an emblem of Jehovah, and the worship paid it was the worship of Jehovah. Hence the festival which he proclaimed was to be "a feast to Jehovah." But how little able he was to guide events, or to hinder the worst evils of idolatry from speedily manifesting themselves, appears from <a href="/exodus/32-6.htm" title="And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.">Exodus 32:6</a>; <a href="/exodus/32-25.htm" title="And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked to their shame among their enemies:)">Exodus 32:25</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/32.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He built an altar before it</span>. Aaron thus proceeded to "follow a multitude to evil" (<a href="/exodus/23-2.htm">Exodus 23:2</a>), and encouraged the idolatry which he felt himself powerless to restrain. Still, he did not intend that the people should drift away from the worship of Jehovah, or view the calf as anything but a symbol of him. He therefore <span class="cmt_word">made proclamation</span> and said, <span class="cmt_word">Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord</span> (literally, "to Jehovah "). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/32-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">When Aaron</span><br /><span class="heb">אַהֲרֹ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(’a·hă·rōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_175.htm">Strong's 175: </a> </span><span class="str2">Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saw this,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֣רְא</span> <span class="translit">(way·yar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he built</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּ֥בֶן</span> <span class="translit">(way·yi·ḇen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1129.htm">Strong's 1129: </a> </span><span class="str2">To build</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an altar</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזְבֵּ֖חַ</span> <span class="translit">(miz·bê·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4196.htm">Strong's 4196: </a> </span><span class="str2">An altar</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before [the calf]</span><br /><span class="heb">לְפָנָ֑יו</span> <span class="translit">(lə·p̄ā·nāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and proclaimed:</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקְרָ֤א</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·rā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> </span><span class="str2">To call, proclaim, read</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Tomorrow</span><br /><span class="heb">מָחָֽר׃</span> <span class="translit">(mā·ḥār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4279.htm">Strong's 4279: </a> </span><span class="str2">Deferred, the morrow, tomorrow, hereafter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[shall be] a feast</span><br /><span class="heb">חַ֥ג</span> <span class="translit">(ḥaḡ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2282.htm">Strong's 2282: </a> </span><span class="str2">A festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the LORD.”</span><br /><span class="heb">לַיהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/32-5.htm">Exodus 32:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/32-5.htm">OT Law: Exodus 32:5 When Aaron saw this he built (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 32:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 32:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/32-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 32:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 32:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>