Exodus 32:28 kjv
And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
Exodus 32:28 nkjv
So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Exodus 32:28 niv
The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.
Exodus 32:28 esv
And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.
Exodus 32:28 nlt
The Levites obeyed Moses' command, and about 3,000 people died that day.
Exodus 32 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 33:8-9 | And of Levi he said, "Your Thummim and Your Urim are with Your godly one... who said to his father and mother, ‘I regard them not’..." | Levites’ loyalty prioritizing God over family |
| Mal 2:4-6 | "Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant with Levi may continue," says the LORD of hosts... | Levites' covenant for faithfulness |
| Num 3:12 | "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb..." | Levites chosen for sanctuary service |
| Deut 4:23-26 | "Beware that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image..." | Warning against idolatry & covenant breaking |
| Num 25:9 | "Those who died by the plague were 24,000." | God's judgment on idolatry/immorality |
| 1 Cor 10:7-8 | "Do not be idolaters, as some of them were... Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day." | Idolatry/immorality results in judgment |
| Acts 2:41 | "So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls." | Contrast: 3000 lost (law) vs. 3000 saved (Spirit) |
| Ex 22:20 | "He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the LORD alone, shall be utterly destroyed." | Capital punishment for idolatry |
| Deut 13:12-18 | Law concerning idolatrous cities; calls for destruction. | Eradication of idolatry |
| Num 14:36-37 | "The men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing a bad report... those men who spread the bad report concerning the land, died by a plague before the LORD." | Immediate divine judgment for rebellion |
| Ps 106:19-20 | "They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. Thus they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass." | Remembers the golden calf sin |
| Josh 23:16 | "When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God... then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly..." | Covenant breaking brings destruction |
| Ex 32:27 | "He said to them, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Every man of you put his sword on his thigh... slay every man his brother..."'" | Direct command leading to the action |
| Deut 18:18-19 | "I will raise up a prophet... And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him." | Authority of God's appointed leader (Moses) |
| Zech 13:3 | Prophetic command for kin to slay false prophets. | Zeal for God’s truth, even against kin |
| 2 Cor 11:2 | "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy..." | God's righteous jealousy over His people |
| Heb 12:29 | "For our God is a consuming fire." | God's consuming holiness and judgment |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." | God's wrath against sin |
| Ex 32:35 | "Then the LORD smote the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron had made." | Further divine punishment for the idolatry |
| 1 Kings 18:40 | Elijah's command to slay the prophets of Baal. | Eliminating idolatry’s agents |
Exodus 32 verses
Exodus 32 28 Meaning
Exodus 32:28 describes the immediate consequence of the Levites' faithful and zealous obedience to Moses' command. Following Moses' directive to "slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor," the sons of Levi carried out this severe judgment against those involved in the idolatry of the golden calf, resulting in the death of approximately three thousand men among the Israelites on that specific day. This act underscored the gravity of their covenant breaking and demonstrated divine justice and the sacred demand for loyalty.
Exodus 32 28 Context
Exodus chapter 32 chronicles the catastrophic golden calf incident. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God, the Israelites, led by Aaron, grew impatient and compelled Aaron to fashion a golden calf, declaring it their god who brought them out of Egypt. This act was a grave violation of the very first commandments concerning monotheism and the prohibition of idolatry. God's fury burned against His people, and He threatened to destroy them, but Moses interceded. Upon descending the mountain and witnessing their idolatry, Moses shattered the tablets of the Law, a symbolic act of the broken covenant. He then destroyed the calf and administered severe judgment. Verse 28 describes the Levites' response to Moses' direct, divinely-sanctioned command to execute those who had participated in or endorsed this great sin. It's a vivid demonstration of God's absolute holiness, the seriousness of breaking His covenant, and the immediate, deadly consequences of idolatry.
Exodus 32 28 Word analysis
- So: (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ - vayya‘asu) This conjunction implies a direct, immediate consequence. It connects the Levites' action as a direct response and fulfillment of Moses' command in the previous verse (Ex 32:27). It emphasizes obedience.
- the sons of Levi: (בְּנֵי לֵוִי - b'nei Levi) This specific tribal designation is crucial. The Levites, who would later be consecrated for priestly and temple service, displayed unparalleled zeal for the LORD’s honor. Their action here foreshadows their future role as guardians of God's holiness, set apart from the other tribes (Deut 33:9-10). They prioritized God's command over tribal or familial loyalty.
- did: (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ - vayya‘asu, from עָשָׂה - 'asah - to do, to make, to act) Signifies action and obedience. They did not hesitate or question but executed the command.
- according to the word of Moses: (כִּדְבַר מֹשֶׁה - kid'var Mosheh) Emphasizes Moses’ divinely-ordained authority. "Word" (davar) often carries the weight of divine communication. Moses was speaking for God, and the Levites were obeying God's instruction channeled through His appointed leader.
- and about three thousand men: (כְּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ - k'shloshet alafim 'ish)
- about three thousand: This specific number indicates a severe but limited judgment, highlighting divine precision in judgment. It represents a significant portion of the offenders but not the entire nation, showcasing God's righteous wrath tempered with an element of selective judgment.
- men: (אִישׁ - 'ish) Refers to adult males. The term emphasizes individual accountability and the targeted nature of the judgment against those directly implicated in the rebellion. This mass casualty served as a stark lesson for the entire community regarding the cost of apostasy.
- of the people: (מִן הָעָם - min ha'am) Identifies the victims as members of the Israelite community, specifically those who had rebelled or were actively involved in the idolatry of the golden calf. This clarifies that the judgment was internal, among the chosen people.
- fell that day: (וַיִּפֹּל בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - vayyippol bayyom hahu)
- fell: (וַיִּפֹּל - vayyippol, from נָפַל - nafal) A euphemism for death, often implying a sudden, violent demise or collapse in battle or judgment. Here, it refers to death by the sword as an act of execution by the Levites, under divine sanction.
- that day: Emphasizes the immediate, swift, and undeniable nature of the divine judgment. The consequence of their sin was delivered without delay.
Exodus 32 28 Bonus section
- The incident of the three thousand falling is a chilling parallel and theological contrast to the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, where approximately three thousand were "added" to the church after hearing Peter's preaching. While in Exodus, the "word" brought death due to the breaking of the Old Covenant, in Acts, the "word" of the Gospel, empowered by the Spirit, brought spiritual life and salvation under the New Covenant. Both events signify a foundational purification and establishment, but through entirely different means and outcomes.
- This event solidified the Levites' sacred duties, even before the formal establishment of the Levitical priesthood detailed in Numbers and Leviticus. Their act of zeal consecrated them (Ex 32:29), foreshadowing their dedication to guarding God's holiness within the community.
Exodus 32 28 Commentary
Exodus 32:28 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's early history, highlighting God's consuming holiness and the grave consequences of covenant disloyalty. The severity of the punishment reflects the unique relationship between God and Israel as His chosen people; their sin of idolatry was not merely a breach of law but an act of spiritual adultery against their Divine Deliverer. The Levites' willingness to execute this harsh command, even upon kin and neighbors, set them apart and earned them the unique privilege of priestly service (Mal 2:4-6), demonstrating that zeal for God's glory outweighs all other loyalties. This act of judgment purified the camp and reaffirmed God's authority and standards amidst human rebellion, preparing a humbled nation for renewed covenant relationship. It serves as a stark reminder of God's intolerance for idolatry and the necessity of immediate, unwavering obedience to His word.