Exodus 32:31
ESV
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.
NIV
So Moses went back to the Lord and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.
NASB
Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, 'Oh, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves!
CSB
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves.
NLT
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, 'Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves.
KJV
And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
NKJV
Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold!
What does Exodus 32:31 mean?
Moses was meeting with God on Sinai (Exodus 24:18) when Israel committed acts of idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6). God would have been justified in wiping out the entire nation and starting over (Exodus 32:7–10). Instead, He sends Moses back. Moses angrily smashes the stone records of God's law (Exodus 32:19), disintegrates the idol (Exodus 32:20), and oversees a bloody punishment performed by the tribe of Levi (Exodus 32:26–29). He then returns to the mountain to plead for God to forgive Israel's sin (Exodus 32:30).When speaking to God, Moses does not make excuses or downplay what has happened (Exodus 32:21–24). He states the sin exactly. Seeking forgiveness from God requires an honest, humble heart (Hebrews 4:15–16; 1 John 1:8–10). The people directly disobeyed a clear order from their Lord (Exodus 20:3–6). All Moses can do is to appeal to God's mercy.
