Exodus 32:32
ESV
But now, if you will forgive their sin — but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written."
NIV
But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."
NASB
But now, if You will forgive their sin, very well; but if not, please wipe me out from Your book which You have written!'
CSB
Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written."
NLT
But now, if you will only forgive their sin — but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!'
KJV
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
NKJV
Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
What does Exodus 32:32 mean?
When God first told Moses about Israel's idolatry (Exodus 32:7–10), He suggested that He could destroy the entire nation and start over. That would have been justified. Israel blatantly defied God's commands (Exodus 20:3–6) by making an idol (Exodus 32:1–6). Moses knew the Lord would not do that, though He had every right to (Exodus 32:11–14). Moses returned and punished the people (Exodus 32:19–20, 28). Now he has returned and confessed their great sin to the Lord (Exodus 32:30–31).During his plea, Moses mirrors God's comments about destroying Israel. Some suggest that Moses refers to the "book of life," implying that Moses demands eternal damnation unless God forgives the people. This is unreasonable. More likely is that Moses does not want to be forgiven if his fellow Hebrews are not. This echoes the self-sacrificial attitude seen in the apostle Paul (Romans 9:3–5). Though he knows what the Lord will do, Moses expresses his deep sorrow along with his love for the nation.
Another possible interpretation is that Moses does not want to be associated with a people whom God will not forgive. His request to be "blotted out," then, suggests that he be erased from written history (Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 29:20), possibly even from the upcoming census (Numbers 1:1–2). There may be elements of both in the request.
