Exodus 32:14 kjv
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Exodus 32:14 nkjv
So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.
Exodus 32:14 niv
Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Exodus 32:14 esv
And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.
Exodus 32:14 nlt
So the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.
Exodus 32 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? | God's unchanging character and truthfulness |
| 1 Sam 15:29 | And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret." | Reiterates God's immutable nature despite "relenting" language |
| Jonah 3:10 | When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. | God relents when people repent, similar divine response |
| Jer 18:7-10 | If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom... I will relent of the disaster... But if it does evil... then I will relent of the good... | Principles of God relenting from good or evil based on actions |
| Joel 2:13 | Rend your hearts and not your garments... for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. | Attributes of God's character motivating His relenting |
| Psa 106:23 | Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them. | Direct cross-reference to Moses' intercession for Israel |
| Psa 99:8 | O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, though you took vengeance on their evil deeds. | God forgives yet can administer justice |
| Exod 34:6-7 | The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands... | God's self-revelation of His mercy after the golden calf |
| Isa 55:7 | let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. | God's willingness to pardon those who return |
| Deut 9:12-14 | Get up quickly from here, for your people... have acted corruptly... Let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. | God's initial declaration to Moses to destroy Israel |
| Gen 18:23-32 | Abraham pleads with God for Sodom, an example of intercession | Abraham's intercession for others, foreshadowing Moses' role |
| Num 14:11-20 | Moses' intercession for Israel after the ten spies incident, God relents and pardons according to His word. | Another instance of Moses interceding and God responding |
| Eze 22:30 | And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. | The need for intercessors in preventing judgment |
| Amos 7:1-6 | Amos' intercession prevents total destruction in two visions | Another example of intercession averting divine judgment |
| Rom 8:34 | Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. | Christ as the ultimate intercessor |
| Heb 7:25 | Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. | Christ's continuous priestly intercession for believers |
| 1 John 2:1 | My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. | Jesus as an advocate/intercessor when we sin |
| Eph 1:7 | In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. | Redemption and forgiveness through Christ, based on grace |
| Psa 103:8-10 | The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love... He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. | God's merciful character towards sin |
| Matt 5:7 | Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. | Divine principle of mercy demonstrated |
Exodus 32 verses
Exodus 32 14 Meaning
Exodus 32:14 states that the Lord turned from the severe judgment He had declared upon the Israelites. This divine "relenting" demonstrates God's responsiveness to Moses' intercessory prayer, His readiness to show mercy, and His faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they were steeped in rebellion through the golden calf idolatry. It illustrates that God, while perfectly just, also extends compassion, showing that prayer can avert threatened calamity.
Exodus 32 14 Context
Exodus chapter 32 recounts the tragic incident of Israel's idolatry with the golden calf. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from the Lord, the people at the foot of the mountain, impatient and fearful due to Moses' delay, coerced Aaron into making an idol. This direct violation of the first two commandments sparked God's righteous wrath. The Lord declared to Moses His intention to consume the rebellious nation and raise a new people through Moses. In response, Moses passionately interceded for Israel, reminding God of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and appealing to God's glory and reputation among the nations. It is within this profound exchange, demonstrating the depths of human sin and the even greater depth of divine mercy mediated by intercession, that Exodus 32:14 appears, signifying God's decision to withhold the declared catastrophic judgment.
Exodus 32 14 Word analysis
- And the Lord (וַיְהוָה - wa-Yahweh): This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and power. The immediate reference to God, by His covenant name, highlights that the "relenting" is an action stemming directly from His divine nature and authority, not an external compulsion.
- relented (יִּנָּחֶם - yinnakhem): This is a crucial Hebrew term (nacham). It conveys "to be sorry," "to comfort oneself," or "to feel deep compassion," leading to a change of intention or action, not a change in character or ultimate purpose. When applied to God, as here and in Jonah 3:10, it does not imply error or capriciousness on God's part. Rather, it signifies His dynamic relationship with humanity, where His declared course of action can be influenced by human repentance (as in Jonah) or sincere intercession (as with Moses), in line with His eternal attributes of mercy and justice. This demonstrates His relational condescension towards His creation.
- from the disaster (מֵהָרָעָה - meha-ra'ah): Refers to the severe evil, the calamitous judgment or punishment that God had specifically declared He would bring upon the rebellious Israelites. It underscores the gravity of their sin and the seriousness of God's original stated intention to act in judgment.
- that he had spoken of bringing (אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לַעֲשׂוֹת - asher dibber la'asot): This phrase reaffirms God's earlier, explicit threat of destruction (Exod 32:10). It highlights that the averted calamity was a deliberate declaration, revealing God's justice in condemning sin, and making His subsequent relenting a profound display of grace rather than an oversight.
- on his people (לְעַמּוֹ - l'amoh): Emphasizes the covenant relationship that Israel had with the Lord. Despite their blatant infidelity and rebellion, God still identifies them as "His people," which Moses shrewdly used in his intercession (Exod 32:11), appealing to God's faithfulness to His promises and the potential dishonor to His name if He destroyed His own chosen nation.
Exodus 32 14 Bonus section
The account of God relenting serves as a critical biblical precedent for the power of human intercession. It reveals a paradoxical aspect of God's character: immutable in His essence and decrees, yet relationally responsive to the cries and repentance of His people. This divine "change of mind" is a powerful anthropomorphism, portraying God's heart of compassion and patience, emphasizing that He is not rigid or distant, but intimately engaged with human choices. It foreshadows the ultimate intercessory work of Jesus Christ, who continually stands between God's holy wrath and humanity's sin, making perfect and final appeal on our behalf (Rom 8:34, Heb 7:25). The event underscores that while consequences for sin are real, divine judgment can be deferred or altered by a divine willingness to forgive, which is mediated by heartfelt pleas, appealing to God's character and covenant promises.
Exodus 32 14 Commentary
Exodus 32:14 is a profound theological statement on the nature of God, the efficacy of intercession, and the dynamic interaction between divine justice and mercy. The term "relented" (nacham) applied to God does not suggest a change in His eternal character or divine mind, but rather a change in His course of action towards humanity in response to human intercession or repentance. God's immutability (Mal 3:6, Num 23:19) assures His faithfulness and consistency, yet His relational nature allows for responsiveness.
Here, Moses, standing in the "breach" (Psa 106:23), effectively appealed to God's covenant promises, His glory among the nations, and His own merciful character (Exod 34:6-7). This prayer was not about changing God's mind in terms of ultimate purpose, but rather aligning God's intended action with His broader plan of redemption, which included preserving Israel to bring forth the Messiah. The verse thus illustrates God's desire for reconciliation and redemption even in the face of profound sin. It underscores that while God's justice demands consequence for sin, His mercy and sovereign freedom allow Him to alter a declared judgment in response to prayer, provided it aligns with His eternal purposes and brings glory to His name. It teaches us the power and importance of earnest intercessory prayer.