Exodus 32:5
ESV
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord."
NIV
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord."
NASB
Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, 'Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.'
CSB
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and made an announcement: "There will be a festival to the Lord tomorrow."
NLT
Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, 'Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!'
KJV
And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord.
NKJV
So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.”
What does Exodus 32:5 mean?
Aaron has made an idol to represent the Lord to Israel (Exodus 32:1–4). He is supposed to be leading the people (Exodus 24:14) while Moses is hearing from the Lord on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18). Instead, Aaron cooperates with them in violating at least one of God's Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3–6). Aaron refers to "the Lord," using the name meant to identify the One True God of Israel (Exodus 3:15; 14:1). One could argue that this golden calf doesn't violate the first commandment against worshipping other gods. But the second commandment outlaws the worship of manmade images, even those representing spiritual beings.Commentators suggest that Israel wanted Aaron to "make" a god for them to prove himself a worthy replacement for Moses. Others think the people wanted a tangible link to God which Moses had provided. In either case, their choice is wrong. Good intentions are never an excuse to defy the Lord's specific instructions (1 Samuel 15:22–23).
