Exodus 32:6
ESV
And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.
NIV
So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
NASB
So the next day they got up early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to engage in lewd behavior.
CSB
Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.
NLT
The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.
KJV
And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
NKJV
Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
What does Exodus 32:6 mean?
Since Moses has been gone for a long time on Sinai (Exodus 24:18), the Israelites fear he won't come back. They pressure Aaron to give them a tangible image of the Lord who rescued them from Egypt. This violates God's commands (Exodus 20:3–6) but Aaron gives in. He makes a golden image and prepares to offer sacrifices in front of it (Exodus 32:1–5).The end of this verse is notoriously difficult to interpret. Israel's behavior is partly described by the Hebrew root word tsachaq. This is associated with ideas like revelry, playing, laughing, mocking, and joking (Genesis 19:14). But the word can also suggest physical intimacy (Genesis 26:8–9). When falsely accusing Joseph (Genesis 39:11–12), Potiphar's wife seems to use the word in both ways (Genesis 39:14, 17–18). Some commentators suggest Israel is engaging in an orgy: explicit sexual acts as part of a group or depraved party. That assumption is reflected in some English translations (Exodus 32:25 KJV). Other translators disagree and see this as a reference to childish or uncontrolled behavior (Exodus 32:25).
It makes no real difference what Israel was doing. It's clear from context that whatever they did was inappropriate. It was connected to the use of an idol. The Lord is offended (Exodus 32:9–10). Moses will respond with intense anger (Exodus 32:19–20, 28).
