Exodus 34 32

Exodus 34:32 kjv

And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.

Exodus 34:32 nkjv

Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 34:32 niv

Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 34:32 esv

Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai.

Exodus 34:32 nlt

Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 32 Meaning

After his descent from Mount Sinai, Moses assembled the entire community of Israel and faithfully conveyed to them every divine instruction, law, and covenant stipulation he had personally received from the Lord during his time on the mountain. This action established the comprehensive body of God's will for His people.

Exodus 34 32 Context

Exodus chapter 34 describes God's gracious renewal of His covenant with Israel after the grave sin of the golden calf (Exod 32). Following Moses' intercession and the destruction of the first set of tablets, God called Moses back to Mount Sinai to receive a new set of stone tablets with the written Law. God revealed His character as merciful and gracious (vv. 6-7) and reiterated key covenant stipulations. After forty days on the mountain with God, Moses descended (v. 29). This verse (34:32) takes place immediately after Moses' descent and the people observing the radiating glory on his face (vv. 29-31), but before Moses veiled his face in everyday interactions (v. 33). It is the critical moment where God's re-established word is formally conveyed to the people.

Historically, this event solidifies the unique relationship between Yahweh and Israel, setting them apart as a people governed directly by divine law. It emphasizes Moses' irreplaceable role as God's chosen prophet and covenant mediator. The instructions laid down here, including the covenant stipulations found in verses 10-27, were foundational for Israel's communal and religious life in the wilderness and the Promised Land.

Exodus 34 32 Word analysis

• And afterward (וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן, ve'acharei-chen): This adverbial phrase signals a temporal sequence, indicating that the following actions occur subsequent to Moses' direct encounter with the Lord on Mount Sinai and his descent. It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship, where the imparting of commands flows from the divine encounter.

• all the children of Israel (כָּל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol-b'nei Yisra'el): Emphasizes the inclusivity and communal nature of the covenant. The commands were not for a select few, but for the entire nation, signifying their collective responsibility and participation in the divine covenant.

• came nigh (נִגְּשׁוּ, niggeshu from נָגַשׁ, nagash): Means to approach or draw near. This implies a purposeful action on the part of the Israelites, likely in response to Moses' summoning, to formally assemble and receive instruction. It contrasts with their fear and inability to directly approach God's presence, highlighting Moses as their necessary intermediary.

• and he gave them in commandment (וַיְצַו אֹתָם, vayetzav otam from צָוָה, tsavah): The verb tsavah means to command, ordain, or appoint. This highlights Moses' authoritative role as God's designated messenger. These were not mere suggestions or teachings, but divine decrees requiring obedience.

• all that the LORD had spoken (כָּל־אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה, kol-asher dibber Yahweh): This phrase underscores two critical points: comprehensiveness (Moses withheld nothing) and divine origin (the words came directly from God, not Moses' own thoughts). It testifies to Moses' faithfulness as a prophet.

• with him (itto): Emphasizes the unique, intimate, and direct communication God had with Moses. This close fellowship validates the truthfulness and authority of the commands Moses relayed.

• in mount Sinai (בְּהַר סִינָי, b'har Sînay): Identifies the specific, holy location of this momentous revelation. Sinai is synonymous with the giving of the Law, establishing the covenant, and demonstrating God's awesome presence and authority over Israel. It grounds the commands in a historically significant, divinely appointed place.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment": This clause beautifully portrays the interaction between the divine representative and the human congregation. It shows Israel's collective receptiveness, assembling themselves to hear God's word, and Moses' immediate, authorized action in communicating it to them.
  • "all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai": This crucial phrase serves as the validation of Moses' message. It guarantees the absolute truth and divine authority of the commands because they originated entirely from Yahweh Himself, spoken directly to Moses at the sacred covenant site, Mount Sinai. It leaves no room for human alteration or interpretation of the source.

Exodus 34 32 Bonus section

• Moses's face shining (Exod 34:29-35) directly precedes this event and acts as a powerful visual sign validating his message. The fear and awe that prompted the Israelites to draw near underscore the holy and divine source of the commands Moses delivered. He speaks before covering his face with the veil, ensuring the people witnessed the unmitigated glory of the divine revelation through him.
• This verse underpins the concept of Moses as the unique prophet and lawgiver for Israel. His direct and complete communication with God contrasts sharply with the partial revelations given to other prophets later in Israel's history.
• The re-giving of the law here (following the initial breakage of the tablets in Exod 32:19) illustrates God's persistent grace and patience with His covenant people, offering a second chance and renewing His commitment to guide them by His precepts.

Exodus 34 32 Commentary

Exodus 34:32 is a succinct but profoundly significant verse that details the re-establishment of the divine-human connection following Israel's monumental sin of the golden calf. Having spent forty days in the presence of the Lord, where the covenant was graciously renewed and the second set of tablets inscribed, Moses descended from Sinai bearing the undeniable glory of God on his face. This verse highlights his immediate and pivotal act of mediatorship: gathering the entire Israelite congregation.

Moses' faithful transmission of "all that the LORD had spoken" emphasizes his role as a transparent conduit for God's word. This was not a selective recounting or an edited version, but a complete delivery of divine mandates. This action solidified Israel's identity as a people living under the direct and comprehensive law of God. The phrase "came nigh" reflects a restored sense of order and readiness among the Israelites to hear and obey, indicating a communal re-commitment to their covenant relationship, which had been fractured by their idolatry. This scene lays the critical foundation for the remaining instructions in Exodus and subsequent books, underscoring that all subsequent laws for the tabernacle, priesthood, and daily life were divinely ordained at Sinai, received and transmitted through Moses. It serves as a theological reminder of God's fidelity to His covenant promises, even in the face of human unfaithfulness, and His continued commitment to communicating His will to His people for their instruction and obedience.