Deuteronomy 9:21

19 For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.

20 The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron.

And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain.

22 You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah.

23 And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

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
And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain.
KJV
And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
WEB
I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the brook that descended out of the mountain.
ASV
And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
DARBY
And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, and ground it very small, until it became fine dust; and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that flowed down from the mountain.
BLB
And your⁺ sin that you⁺ had made—the calf—I took and burned it with the fire, and crushed it [and] ground [it] well, until that it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the brook that descended from the mountain.
ÅB
Men deres syndige verk, kalven som dere hadde gjort, tok jeg og kastet på ilden og knuste og malte den vel, til den ble til fint støv, og støvet kastet jeg i bekken som flyter ned fra fjellet.
OTB
Så tok jeg den syndige tingen du hadde laget—kalven—og brente den i ilden, knuste den og malte den til pulver så fint som støv, og kastet støvet i bekken som renner ned fra fjellet.
B1930
Men eders syndige verk, kalven som I hadde gjort, tok jeg og kastet på ilden og knuste og malte den vel, til den blev til fint støv, og støvet kastet jeg i bekken som flyter ned fra fjellet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 32:20

    Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 31:7

    For on that day, every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold that your own hands have sinfully made.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 30:22

    So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 2:18–21

    and the idols will vanish completely.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 8:11

    Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.

    Read in context