Exodus 32:16
ESV
The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
NIV
The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
NASB
The tablets were God’s work, and the writing was God’s writing engraved on the tablets.
CSB
The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was God’s writing, engraved on the tablets.
NLT
These tablets were God’s work; the words on them were written by God himself.
KJV
And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
NKJV
Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets.
What does Exodus 32:16 mean?
Moses is carrying two stone tablets of unnamed size and shape (Exodus 32:15). These record the Ten Commandments which God recently gave to Israel (Deuteronomy 4:13). Western tradition usually depicts these as rectangles with arched tops. The same tradition usually portrays them as unreasonably large. Most likely, these tablets were roughly forearm-sized, possibly even smaller.This verse credits God with the construction of the tablets and their writing. Scripture mentioned earlier that these were written with God's "finger" (Exodus 31:18). This does not mean God used some physical process to create the tablets and writing. The entire Bible is called "God's Word" (Hebrews 4:12) and He is credited as its author (2 Timothy 3:16). But that does not require Him to have put tangible pen to paper. Moses could have cut and engraved the tablets himself, and the statement would still apply.
