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They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Danger of Self-Made Worship
Commentators explain that the Israelites were not necessarily trying to worship a different god; they were trying to worship Jehovah on their own terms. They created a visible image, likely inspired by Egyptian bull worship, and rejoiced in their own creation. John Calvin notes that any worship God has not commanded is rejected by Him, making their celebration a 'sacrilegious profanation' despite their intentions.
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7
18th Century
Presbyterian
And they made a calf. This was made of the earrings and ornaments which they had brought from Egypt (Exodus 32:2–4). Stephen i…
They made a calf (εμοσχοποιησαν). First aorist active indicative of μοσχοποιεω, here only in the N.T. and unknown elsewhere. The L…
19th Century
Anglican
They made a calf: The fact is stated in a compound word which is not found in the LXX. version, and which St. Stephen apparently c…
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Baptist
This again is another of the ways by which men attempt to make an idol god out of something which they can see, and to rejoice in what they themsel…
16th Century
Protestant
And they made a calf. We can easily gather from what precedes this why they were more delighted in that figure than in any other. For alth…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And they made a calf in those days Whilst Moses was in the mount; this was done in imitation of the Egyptian idol Apis or…
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People deceive themselves if they think God cannot do what He sees to be good anywhere; He can bring His people into a wilderness and there speak c…