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Exodus 32: The Golden Calf

While Moses was on the mountain, the people grew impatient and asked Aaron to make them gods. Aaron collected their gold earrings and made a calf, and the people worshiped it, saying it had brought them out of Egypt. God told Moses that the people had corrupted themselves. Moses pleaded with God for them, remembering His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and God did not bring the disaster He had spoken of. When Moses came down and saw the calf and the dancing, he threw down the tablets and broke them, burned the calf and confronted Aaron. The sin brought serious judgment. Moses went back to God and offered to be blotted out of God's book if the people could be forgiven.

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Read Exodus 32

World English Bible · 35 verses

  1. 1 When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 They have turned away quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Yahweh said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath, and turn away from this evil against your people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 So Yahweh turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides. They were written on one side and on the other.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is the noise of war in the camp.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 He said, “It isn’t the voice of those who shout for victory. It is not the voice of those who cry for being overcome; but the noise of those who sing that I hear.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  19. 19 As soon as he came near to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Then Moses’ anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  20. 20 He took the calf which they had made, and burned it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  21. 21 Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you have brought a great sin on them?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  22. 22 Aaron said, “Don’t let the anger of my lord grow hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  23. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods, which shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  24. 24 I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them take it off.’ So they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  25. 25 When Moses saw that the people were out of control, (for Aaron had let them lose control, causing derision among their enemies),This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  26. 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on Yahweh’s side, come to me!” All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  27. 27 He said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  28. 28 The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. About three thousand men fell of the people that day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  29. 29 Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to Yahweh, for every man was against his son and against his brother, that he may give you a blessing today.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  30. 30 On the next day, Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  31. 31 Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  32. 32 Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  33. 33 Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  34. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  35. 35 Yahweh struck the people, because of what they did with the calf, which Aaron made.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Exodus 32 · Preschool

Only Love God

Name Date

Color the tablets God wrote! God's people made a gold calf, but God wants us to love only Him.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.”

Exodus 32:16 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God is the one true God. We worship only Him.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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