Exodus 32:29

²⁷ He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”

²⁸ The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.

Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.”

³⁰ The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

³¹ So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.”
KJV: For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
WEB: Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, for every man was against his son and against his brother, that he may give you a blessing today.”
ASV: And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to-day to Jehovah, yea, every man against his son, and against his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
DARBY: And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to-day to Jehovah, yea, every man with his son, and with his brother, and bring on yourselves a blessing to-day.
BLB: And Moses said, “Fill your⁺ hand today for YHWH—for each man [is] against his son and against his brother—that He may bestow on you⁺ this day a blessing.”

ÅB: For Moses sa: Innvi dere idag til prester for Herren, om det så er med blodet av sønn eller bror; så skal han idag gi dere sin velsignelse.
OTB: Da sa Moses: «Innvi dere i dag til Herren—for dere har vært mot deres egne sønner og brødre—så han kan gi dere en velsignelse i dag.»
B1930: For Moses sa: Innvi eder idag til prester for Herren, om det så er med blodet av sønn eller bror; så skal han idag gi eder sin velsignelse.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 25:11–13
“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal.
Read in context
Matthew 10:37
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
Read in context
Zechariah 13:3
And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 13:6–11
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,
Read in context
Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Read in context
Joel 2:12–14
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:18–22
and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’
Read in context
Deuteronomy 33:9–10
He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.
Read in context