Exodus 32 33

Exodus 32:33 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Exodus 32:33 nkjv

And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.

Exodus 32:33 niv

The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.

Exodus 32:33 esv

But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

Exodus 32:33 nlt

But the LORD replied to Moses, "No, I will erase the name of everyone who has sinned against me.

Exodus 32 verses

Exodus 32 33 Meaning

Exodus 32:33 reveals God's unyielding standard of justice in the face of individual sin, specifically against Him. It is His direct response to Moses' plea for national forgiveness and even an offer of his own life in exchange. God clarifies that while His grace extends to the nation generally, severe, personal transgressions, like worshipping the golden calf, warrant individual accountability. He states that those who have specifically sinned against Him will be erased from "My book," signifying a definitive separation and judgment. This "book" represents God's record of those in relationship with Him, and removal implies loss of divine favor and ultimate spiritual disinheritance, underscoring the personal and serious nature of sin.

Exodus 32 33 Context

Exodus 32:33 is nestled within the dramatic narrative of the golden calf incident. While Moses was receiving the Law from God on Mount Sinai, the Israelites below, growing impatient, compelled Aaron to fashion an idol, a golden calf, to worship, declaring it as the god who brought them out of Egypt. This act represented a grave betrayal of their newly established covenant with God and a direct violation of the first two commandments. God's fury ignited, and He intended to destroy the nation and start anew with Moses. Moses, however, interceded passionately, pleading for God's mercy based on His covenant promises and His own glory. In verse 32, Moses even offered his own name to be blotted out of God's book if it would save the people. In response, God asserts the principle of individual accountability in verse 33: those who specifically sinned against Him (not merely as part of a collective) would face individual judgment. This emphasizes that while God extends national forgiveness in response to intercession, deliberate, personal rebellion against Him still has severe, personal consequences, affirming divine justice over blanket clemency for impenitent individuals. This moment underlines the foundational concept of a divine registry, predating many cultural records, which God maintains as a testament to His personal engagement with humanity.

Exodus 32 33 Word analysis

• And the LORD said: This phrase emphasizes a direct, divine decree. "LORD" is the capitalized transliteration of YHWH (יהוה, Yahweh), God's covenant name, signifying His personal, relational, and unchanging character, yet also His absolute authority.
• to Moses: Indicates a specific communication from God to His chosen mediator. This highlights Moses' unique role and the gravity of the message conveyed through him.
• Whoever has sinned: asher khaṭa' (אֲשֶׁר חָטָא) – "whoever, anyone who has missed the mark," indicating a personal act of transgression. This shifts the focus from a general national sin (which Moses prayed for forgiveness for) to specific, individual culpability. It implies a conscious, culpable act against God.
• against Me, li (לִי) – The preposition "to/against" and the suffix "Me" emphasize the direct affront to God's person, authority, and covenant. This specifies the nature of the sin—idolatry being a direct rebellion against YHWH as the sole deliverer and sovereign.
• I will blot him out: emchennu (אֶמְחֶנּוּ) – "I will erase him," or "I will wipe him out." From the root māḥāh (מָחָה), meaning to wipe clean, obliterate, or blot out. This is a very strong and definitive term. It conveys not just death, but complete removal from existence or from a record, signifying severe judgment and spiritual demise, not just physical. It's a permanent and complete erasure.
• out of My book: mi-siphrî (מִסִּפְרִי) – "from My scroll/record." This "book" (sēpher - סֵפֶר) is a metaphorical or literal divine record. It is not necessarily the 'Book of Life' as exclusively understood later in the New Testament (though conceptually related). Here, it primarily signifies God's personal record of those in covenant relationship, under His favor, or recorded for life/existence among His people. To be blotted out implies a severance of that relationship, a loss of divine remembrance, blessing, and ultimately, participation in God's redemptive plan for His people. It refers to God's precise, comprehensive, and eternal knowledge and judgment.
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "Whoever has sinned against Me": This phrase draws a distinction between collective sin and individual, intentional transgression directly against the LORD's authority. It emphasizes personal accountability, clarifying that general intercession, while powerful for national mercy, does not negate the ultimate consequence for impenitent, deliberate, direct rebellion against God by individuals.
  • "I will blot him out of My book": This declaration underscores the solemnity and finality of God's judgment. It illustrates that God maintains a precise and infallible record. To be "blotted out" signifies the most severe form of exclusion and rejection from divine favor and eternal participation. It reinforces God's justice in separating the wicked from the righteous in His sovereign plan.

Exodus 32 33 Bonus section

• Divine Records and Ancient Near East Context: While God's "book" here is uniquely divine, ancient Near Eastern cultures had practices of maintaining censuses, family records, and royal annals. God's "book" transcends these human counterparts, being an eternal, perfectly accurate, and moral record tied to eternal destiny.
• Proleptic Judgment: The phrase "blot him out of My book" is a proleptic (anticipatory) judgment. It's a declaration of divine principle that precedes its full execution, foreshadowing later concepts of ultimate judgment and separation of the wicked.
• The Paradox of Grace and Law: This verse, set amidst the giving of the Law, beautifully illustrates the tension: God's justice demands consequence for sin, but His mercy (elicited by intercession) can postpone or mitigate it, yet individual accountability remains paramount. The ultimate resolution for humanity is found in Christ, whose sacrifice allows for names to be written in the Book of Life without being blotted out (through repentance and faith), yet it does not diminish the gravity of willful sin.
• Not a Mere Census: The "book" is not merely a record of living individuals on earth, but inherently has spiritual and eternal implications. The concept later develops into the clear "Book of Life" associated with salvation.
• God's Sovereignty and Justice: This verse affirms God's absolute sovereignty and unwavering justice. Even Moses, the most intimate human associate of God at that time, could not overrule the principle of individual divine justice. God's moral order is non-negotiable.

Exodus 32 33 Commentary

Exodus 32:33 is a profound statement on God's nature, balancing His justice with His mercy. In response to Moses' impassioned plea and self-sacrificial offer, God clarifies that His righteous judgment is precise. While He might relent on immediate, total national destruction due to intercession, He will not tolerate direct, individual rebellion against His person and authority. "My book" signifies a divine record, reflecting God's omniscience and careful accounting of human deeds and allegiances. To be "blotted out" is to lose divine remembrance, covenant standing, and ultimate salvation. It signifies a severing of relationship, a complete disinheritance from the divine promise. This verse highlights the profound reality of personal accountability: ultimately, each soul is responsible for its own actions before God, a principle reiterated throughout Scripture.