John Calvin Commentary Exodus 32:30

"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto Jehovah; peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin." — Exodus 32:30 (ASV)

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said. Since this judgment of God was terrible, Moses, so that the Israelites would not fall completely into despair, offered them consolation to calm their sorrow, promising that he would plead with God on their behalf. Meanwhile, so that they might turn as humble suppliants to God’s mercy, he reminded them of the gravity of their sin.

The Hebrew words literally mean, ³⁵²you have sinned a great sin. There is, however, no ambiguity in the meaning. For he wished to humble them by setting the greatness of their crime before them, so that they might earnestly commit themselves to repentance. ³⁵³ The particle אולי, auli, has a similar effect. It is often used to express uncertainty, but here, as in many other places, it only denotes difficulty. This was to prevent them, as is frequently the case, from thinking of asking for pardon unconcernedly and carelessly, and not with anxious earnestness.

Thus, when Peter addresses Simon Magus, he tells him to pray, “if perhaps” his iniquity may be forgiven him (Acts 8:22), not that he should waver in his mind like those who are uncertain or doubtful, but that, terrified by the fear of God’s wrath, he should anxiously seek the remedy.

³⁵² So A.V. It will be seen that It will be seen that C. renders the nouns in the ablative case, Ye have sinued . renders the nouns in the ablative case, Ye have sinued by a great sin. a great sin.

³⁵³ See C. on . on Amos 5:15. — Minor Prophets, Cal. Soc. edit., . — Minor Prophets, Cal. Soc. edit., vol. 2 p. 277..