Deuteronomy 9 12

Deuteronomy 9:12 kjv

And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.

Deuteronomy 9:12 nkjv

"Then the LORD said to me, 'Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly; they have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made themselves a molded image.'

Deuteronomy 9:12 niv

Then the LORD told me, "Go down from here at once, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have become corrupt. They have turned away quickly from what I commanded them and have made an idol for themselves."

Deuteronomy 9:12 esv

Then the LORD said to me, 'Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you have brought from Egypt have acted corruptly. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them; they have made themselves a metal image.'

Deuteronomy 9:12 nlt

Then the LORD said to me, 'Get up! Go down immediately, for the people you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted gold and made an idol for themselves!'

Deuteronomy 9 verses

Deuteronomy 9 12 Meaning

Deuteronomy 9:12 records the Lord's urgent command to Moses, instructing him to quickly descend Mount Sinai. The reason given is the immediate and severe apostasy of the Israelites whom Moses led out of Egypt: they had already corrupted themselves and turned aside from the divine path God had commanded, by making a molten image—a direct violation of the Ten Commandments given only recently. This verse emphasizes the swiftness and gravity of their sin.

Deuteronomy 9 12 Context

Deuteronomy 9 forms part of Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites in Moab, before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter focuses on disabusing them of any self-righteousness concerning their upcoming conquest of Canaan. Moses reminds them that it is God's righteousness and the wickedness of the Canaanites, not Israel's merit, that will grant them victory (Deut 9:4-6). To underscore this, Moses launches into a recounting of Israel's past rebellions, starting with their profound apostasy at Mount Horeb (Sinai).

Deuteronomy 9:12 specifically recalls the event of the Golden Calf (detailed in Exodus 32). This happened while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Law, highlighting the people's incredibly quick turn to idolatry even in God's manifest presence. The immediacy and severity of this act of rebellion form a strong counterpoint to any notion that Israel was inherently more righteous or deserving than the nations they were about to displace. Historically and culturally, this narrative serves as a stark warning against syncretism and idolatry, which were prevalent in the ancient Near East and a constant temptation for Israel. The making of a molten image directly contravened the Second Commandment, received shortly before, underscoring the extreme defiance and short memory of the people. It's a polemic against attributing divine power to man-made objects or blending Yahweh-worship with pagan forms.

Deuteronomy 9 12 Word analysis

• And the LORD said unto me: This phrase signals direct divine communication, establishing the ultimate authority behind Moses' words and the information conveyed.
• Arise, get thee down quickly from hence:
  • Arise (ק֥וּם, qum): An imperative indicating a sudden or immediate action, suggesting urgency.
  • get thee down (רֵ֤ד, redh): Another imperative, specifically directing Moses to descend the mountain.
  • quickly (מַהֵ֔ר, maher): An adverb emphasizing extreme haste, reflecting the severe urgency of the situation due to the people's rapid defection. God's message brooks no delay.
• for thy people:
  • "Thy people" (עַמְּךָ֙, amməka): This phrase from God to Moses, rather than "My people," is highly significant. In Exod 32:7, it reflects God's temporary disownership due to their immediate and grievous sin. It underscores the severity of their corruption, pushing God to momentarily disassociate Himself from them due to their defilement, pending Moses' intercession.
• which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt: Reinforces that these are the very people who witnessed God's miraculous deliverance and covenant. Their apostasy is even more egregious given their direct experience of God's power and provision.
• have corrupted themselves:
  • corrupted (שִֽׁחֲת֔וּ, shikhetu from שָׁחַת, shachat): This strong Hebrew verb signifies spoiling, ruining, or acting corruptly. It implies moral decay and an inherent depravity, indicating that they have defiled themselves and damaged their covenant relationship beyond recognition. It speaks of a fundamental breakdown of character and allegiance.
  • "themselves": Emphasizes their self-initiated and self-inflicted spiritual harm; it was their deliberate choice, not something forced upon them.
• they are quickly turned aside:
  • quickly (מַהֵר֙, maher): Again, the adverb emphasizes the rapid defection, highlighting the people's instability and unfaithfulness.
  • turned aside (סָר֖וּ, saru): From סוּר, sur, meaning to turn aside, deviate, or depart. It conveys a departure from the straight and prescribed path. It implies a departure from loyalty and prescribed behaviour.
• out of the way which I commanded them:
  • "the way": Refers metaphorically to God's commandments, statutes, and the covenant relationship. It signifies the divinely ordained path of life and righteousness.
  • "I commanded them": Underscores divine authority and specific instructions (e.g., the Ten Commandments, especially the prohibition against images) which they flagrantly disobeyed. This wasn't ignorance but active rebellion.
• they have made them a molten image:
  • molten image (מַסֵּכָה֙, massekha): Refers to an idol cast from metal (Exod 32:4, a golden calf). This is a direct, tangible act of idolatry, embodying the breaking of the Second Commandment (Exod 20:4) received only recently at Sinai. It represents a specific form of idolatry prevalent in the Ancient Near East and demonstrates syncretistic tendencies by potentially trying to represent Yahweh in a forbidden form, or combining His worship with pagan practices.

Deuteronomy 9 12 Bonus section

The Hebrew word "massekha" (מַסֵּכָה), translated as "molten image," points to an idol that was cast or poured from molten metal. This distinguishes it from "pesel" (פֶּסֶל), a graven or carved image. The specific term implies a deliberate, manufacturing process rather than a natural object, further highlighting the premeditated nature of the people's idolatry. The act of "casting" the image in molten gold implies a significant undertaking, not just an accidental or spur-of-the-moment deviation, suggesting a degree of pre-planning and communal involvement that intensified their guilt. Furthermore, the event reveals how quickly external pressures or internal doubts can lead to a profound spiritual compromise, even directly after receiving monumental divine revelation.

Deuteronomy 9 12 Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:12 presents a pivotal moment in Israel's early covenant history, illustrating their immediate and profound spiritual failure following God's majestic revelation at Sinai. The Lord's urgent call for Moses to descend underscores the catastrophic nature of their apostasy. The repeated emphasis on "quickly" highlights the swiftness with which the people turned from their fresh vows to God. This wasn't a gradual backslide, but an immediate plunge into forbidden practices. God's statement "thy people" is not merely descriptive; it conveys divine disappointment and temporary distancing due to their blatant self-corruption and idolatry. They literally "corrupted themselves" (acting like they were already Canaanites) and "turned aside," demonstrating their intrinsic waywardness, regardless of overwhelming divine revelation. Their construction of a "molten image," specifically a golden calf, was a clear violation of the freshly given commandments against idolatry, signifying a deep-seated spiritual rebellion and a perverse desire to domesticate or redefine God according to pagan prototypes. This historical event serves as a foundational warning against the human tendency towards idolatry and turning away from divine truth, whether it is physical idols or anything that takes God's supreme place in one's heart.