Exodus 32:21
ESV
And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?"
NIV
He said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?"
NASB
Then Moses said to Aaron, 'What did this people do to you, that you have brought such a great sin upon them?'
CSB
Then Moses asked Aaron, "What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?"
NLT
Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, 'What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?'
KJV
And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
NKJV
And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”
What does Exodus 32:21 mean?
This question is much harsher than it first seems. Aaron made an idol when the people pressured him (Exodus 32:1–6). This blatantly contradicted laws which the Lord had just explained (Exodus 20:3–6). The idol was destroyed (Exodus 32:20) and further punishments are coming (Exodus 32:27–29).Moses does not actually think the people harmed Aaron. Rather, his question is rhetorical: meant to make a statement. The point is that God hates idolatry so much that helping Israel commit that sin seems like an act of hate or violence. In modern speech, Moses might have said something like, "Aaron, you must hate the people of Israel. Are you getting revenge on them for something? What would make you lead them straight into the wrath of God?"
Aaron's response follows an embarrassing pattern of human behavior. When confronted about our sin, our immediate instincts are to blame other people (Exodus 32:22) and to lie (Exodus 32:24). Adam and Eve did something similar when sin first entered the world (Genesis 3:12–13). This is the opposite of how the Lord wants us to respond when under conviction (1 John 1:8–10). God shows Aaron great mercy in response to this failure (Deuteronomy 9:20).
