Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Moses saw that the people had broken loose, (for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies),
- KJV And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
- NKJV Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies),
- NASB Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of ridicule among their enemies—
- NLT Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies.
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
Moses sees the people running wild, a disgrace before their enemies, because Aaron let them loose. Unrestrained sin brings shame and reproach.
Overview
The phrase 'broken loose' pictures a people without restraint, exposed to mockery by surrounding nations. Aaron's failure to restrain them is again highlighted. The verse shows that godly leadership exists in part to guard God's people from the public dishonor that sin invites upon the Lord's name.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Isa 47:3Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.”
- Mic 1:11Depart in shameful nakedness, O dwellers of Shaphir. The dwellers of Zaanan will not come out. Beth-ezel is in mourning; its support is taken from you.
- Rev 16:15“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- Dan 12:2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Hos 2:3Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst.
- Exod 33:4–6When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry.
- Gen 3:10“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
- Rom 6:21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- Ezek 16:63so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Deut 9:20The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron.
- 2 Chr 28:19For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.
- Rev 3:17–18You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 32:25 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
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