Exodus 32:11
ESV
But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
NIV
But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. "Lord," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?
NASB
Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said, 'Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
CSB
But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God: "Lord, why does your anger burn against your people you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand?
NLT
But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. 'O Lord!' he said. 'Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?
KJV
And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
NKJV
Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
What does Exodus 32:11 mean?
God made a symbolic point, and Moses answers with his own rhetorical question. There is no doubt as to why God is angry. Israel committed idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6) while Moses is away communicating with the Lord (Exodus 24:18). The first demonstration of the Lord's anger (Exodus 32:7–9) was in calling the Israelites "your people" and "this people" instead of "my people" (Exodus 3:7; 6:7; 12:31). Next was a symbolic suggestion: that God could erase the Israelites and start over with Moses.Moses responds with a plea on Israel's behalf—including a reference to the nation being "your" people, meaning God's. The conversation which follows is not an example of Moses convincing God to change His mind. Rather, Moses explains the reasons why he does not think the Lord would do such a thing. God has the required power and authority. But He has also made promises (Exodus 3:7–10). Everything He has done for Israel until now has been to demonstrate His merciful love (Exodus 12:40–41). For those and other reasons, Moses knows God would not erase Israel. When God "relents" from the idea of annihilating Israel, He simply stops bringing up the idea. This is much like Abraham's discussion with the Lord about Sodom (Genesis 18:27–33).
