Exodus 32 11

Exodus 32:11 kjv

And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Exodus 32:11 nkjv

Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: "LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

Exodus 32:11 niv

But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

Exodus 32:11 esv

But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, "O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

Exodus 32:11 nlt

But Moses tried to pacify the LORD his God. "O LORD!" he said. "Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?

Exodus 32 verses

Exodus 32 11 Meaning

Exodus 32:11 records Moses' fervent intercession for the people of Israel after their idolatrous act of worshipping the golden calf. Moses appeals to God, questioning the divine wrath against a people He Himself chose and powerfully delivered from Egyptian bondage. The verse encapsulates a plea based on God's covenantal relationship with Israel and His demonstrated mighty acts of redemption, urging God to reconsider His expressed intent to destroy the nation. It highlights Moses' role as a mediator and the power of earnest prayer rooted in God's character and past deeds.

Exodus 32 11 Context

Exodus chapter 32 recounts the severe apostasy of the Israelites, only weeks after pledging covenant loyalty at Mount Sinai and receiving God's laws directly. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Law, the people became impatient and pressured Aaron to make a god for them to worship, resulting in the creation of a golden calf. This act constituted a direct violation of the first two commandments and a profound betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh, who had just powerfully delivered them from Egypt. God's response was immediate and fierce; He declared His intention to destroy the people and raise a new nation from Moses. Verse 11 immediately follows God's declaration, marking the beginning of Moses' courageous and self-sacrificing intercession on behalf of his rebellious people.

Exodus 32 11 Word analysis

• But Moses: Signifies a decisive turning point or opposition to God's announced intention. It highlights Moses' unique role and courage.
• implored: From the Hebrew chalah (חלה), meaning to soften, to make sick, or to appease. It indicates a deeply earnest, supplicating prayer, akin to seeking to pacify or win favor through heartfelt plea. Moses is not demanding, but earnestly appealing to God's character.
• the Lord his God: Yahweh Elohav (יהוה אלהיו). Yahweh is God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His faithfulness and specific relationship with Israel. Elohim (plural form for greatness, used here possessively) denotes God's supreme power and authority. Moses reminds God of His own identity and relationship with His people.
• O Lord, why: Lamah Yahweh (למה יהוה). This is a direct, urgent question to God. It is not an accusation, but an appeal to divine wisdom, justice, and mercy, probing the reasons for such extreme judgment in light of past mercies and future implications.
• does your wrath burn hot: Charon appecha (חרן אפך). Charon implies fierceness or intensity, while aph literally means "nose" or "face," and by extension, anger (where the nose flares). It describes God's fiery, passionate indignation. Moses acknowledges the intensity and justice of God's anger.
• against your people: al ammecha (על עמך). Moses underscores the covenantal relationship. He reminds God that these are "Your people," whom God specifically chose, delivered, and entered into covenant with. This ownership creates a powerful appeal.
• whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt: asher hotzetah me'eretz Mitzrayim (אשר הוצאת מארץ מצרים). A classic, foundational theological statement in Israel. Moses points to God's past, undisputed, and mighty redemptive act. This highlights God's ownership and monumental effort in their deliverance, implying that destroying them now would seem contradictory to such a great act of salvation.
• with great power and with a mighty hand: bekoach gadol uveyad chazakah (בכח גדול וביד חזקה). This is a frequently repeated, formulaic phrase throughout the Pentateuch, emphasizing God's omnipotence and irresistible force demonstrated in the Exodus. Moses implicitly challenges God: "Will You undo Your glorious work performed with such immense power and public display?" This also serves as a polemic against other deities, as no other god displayed such power to free a nation.

Exodus 32 11 Bonus section

• Anthropomorphism: The expression "does your wrath burn hot" and the subsequent idea of God "relenting" (Ex 32:14) are anthropomorphic language used to describe God's actions and emotions in human terms for comprehension. It does not imply a change in God's perfect plan or immutable nature, but rather reflects His perfect justice responding to human sin and His perfect mercy responding to intercession, within His sovereign will.
• Moses' Courage: This intercession reveals Moses' extraordinary boldness and love for his people. He effectively argues with God, not out of defiance, but from a place of deep concern for God's glory and the people's future. This foreshadows Christ's ultimate intercession on behalf of His people, taking on their sin and advocating for them before God.
• Theological Foundation of Redemption: Moses’ appeal implicitly re-emphasizes the Exodus as the defining redemptive act. To undo that through destruction would not only dishonor God's name but would negate the foundational saving act through which Israel knew Him.

Exodus 32 11 Commentary

Exodus 32:11 serves as a cornerstone of biblical intercession. Moses' prayer is profound in its theological basis, appealing not to the people's worthiness (they had none) but to God's character, reputation, and covenant promises. His opening "O Lord, why..." is a cry born from deeply felt concern, implicitly questioning how God's intention aligns with His previous saving acts and His glory among the nations (expanded in the subsequent verses). Moses skillfully uses God's own declarations and deeds as arguments: "They are Your people, whom You brought out, with Your great power." This highlights God's proprietorship over Israel and His massive investment in them through the Exodus. The plea forces consideration of God's commitment and the potential tarnishing of His reputation among pagan nations if His "people," miraculously saved, were now annihilated in the wilderness. Moses exemplifies the role of a true shepherd, standing in the gap for his flock, prioritizing God's glory and His people's survival even over personal gain (as God offered to make a new nation from him). This verse sets a vital precedent for intercessory prayer, demonstrating its power to appeal to the divine nature and past mercies, influencing divine judgment, and reflecting God's ultimate desire for restoration over destruction when met with faithful mediation.