King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 9:12 Mean?

Deuteronomy 9:12 in the King James Version says “And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of ...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.”

Deuteronomy 9:12 · KJV

Context

10

And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

11

And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.

12

And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.

13

Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

14

Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.

Read Deuteronomy 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. God's words reveal both His holiness that cannot tolerate sin and His covenantal grace that distinguishes between the faithful mediator and the unfaithful people.

The command arise, get thee down quickly indicates urgent judgment. While Moses communed with God, receiving revelation for Israel's blessing, the people below were breaking the covenant through idolatry. The speed required shows the seriousness of their sin and the immediacy of God's response to covenant violation.

Notably, God says thy people which thou hast brought forth rather than 'My people.' This rhetorical distancing reveals God's righteous anger at Israel's betrayal. They have forfeited their privileged status through rebellion. Yet God's continued conversation with Moses indicates the possibility of restoration through the mediator's intercession.

The word corrupted translates a Hebrew term meaning to ruin, destroy, or act perversely. Israel has not merely made a mistake but has fundamentally perverted their covenant relationship with God through idolatry.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

While Moses received the law on Mount Sinai, Aaron supervised construction of a golden calf at the people's demand. This represented not just generic idolatry but likely adoption of Egyptian religious practices or Canaanite Baal worship symbolized by bull imagery.

This incident revealed Israel's spiritual immaturity and the persistent temptation to syncretism - mixing worship of Yahweh with pagan religious forms.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's rhetorical distancing ('thy people') teach us about how sin affects our relationship with Him?
  2. Why did the people turn to idolatry so quickly after experiencing God's deliverance from Egypt?
  3. How does the mediator role of Moses point forward to Christ's better mediation?
  4. What forms of idolatry tempt believers today to corrupt their worship of God?
  5. How should the urgency in God's command shape our view of sin's seriousness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 22

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֜ה2 of 22

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵלַ֗י3 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

ק֣וּם4 of 22

“unto me Arise”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

רֵ֤ד5 of 22

“get thee down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

מַהֵ֗ר6 of 22

“quickly”

H4118

properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry

מִזֶּ֔ה7 of 22
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

כִּ֚י8 of 22
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

שִׁחֵ֣ת9 of 22

“have corrupted”

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

עַמְּךָ֔10 of 22

“from hence for thy people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

אֲשֶׁ֥ר11 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הוֹצֵ֖אתָ12 of 22

“which thou hast brought forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם13 of 22

“out of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

סָ֣רוּ14 of 22

“turned aside”

H5493

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

מַהֵ֗ר15 of 22

“quickly”

H4118

properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry

מִן16 of 22
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙17 of 22

“out of the way”

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

אֲשֶׁ֣ר18 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

צִוִּיתִ֔ם19 of 22

“which I commanded”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

עָשׂ֥וּ20 of 22

“them they have made”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לָהֶ֖ם21 of 22
H0
מַסֵּכָֽה׃22 of 22

“them a molten image”

H4541

properly, a pouring over, i.e., fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e., league; concretely a coverlet (as if pour

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 9:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 9:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 32:7-8Judges 2:17Deuteronomy 31:29Hosea 6:4Galatians 1:6Genesis 6:11-12

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Deuteronomy 9 →

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