And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
- BSB The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron.
- NKJV And the Lord was very angry with Aaron and would have destroyed him; so I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
- NASB The Lord was also angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.
- NLT The Lord was so angry with Aaron that he wanted to destroy him, too. But I prayed for Aaron, and the Lord spared him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even Aaron, who made the calf, faced God's anger, but Moses interceded for him too. No one's guilt is too great for prayerful intercession or too small to need it.
Overview
Aaron's leading role in the idolatry made him liable to destruction, showing that office and privilege offer no exemption from accountability. Moses' specific prayer for Aaron demonstrates intercession even for those most responsible for sin. It points forward to Christ, whose intercession reaches the chief of sinners who come to Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Heb 7:26–28For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- Exod 32:35And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
- Exod 32:21And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
- Exod 32:2–5And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 9:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.