Deuteronomy 9:12
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.
Deuteronomy 9:12 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse, the LORD is speaking to Moses, instructing him to quickly descend from the mountain as the people of Israel, whom he led out of Egypt, have turned away from following God's commandments. The people, in Moses' absence, have chosen to worship a molten image, disobeying the covenant they made with the LORD. This verse highlights the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God's word, as well as the consequences of turning away from Him. It serves as a reminder that even when God has performed miracles and delivered his people, they still have the free will to choose whether to follow Him or turn to idolatry. The LORD's command to Moses to descend quickly emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action to address the spiritual corruption within the community. Ultimately, this verse speaks to the ongoing struggle of human beings to remain faithful to God and the importance of repentance and reconciliation when we stray from His path.
Theological Overview
In this verse from the book of Deuteronomy, we see the LORD instructing Moses to quickly descend from the mountain because the people of Israel, whom Moses had led out of Egypt, had turned away from the commandments of God and had created an idol for themselves. This passage highlights the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the consequences of straying from his ways. The theological interpretation of this verse emphasizes the need for faithfulness and righteousness in following God's will. The phrase "they have made them a molten image" demonstrates the dangers of idolatry and the temptation to worship false gods instead of the one true God. This verse serves as a reminder to all believers to stay faithful to God's commandments and to avoid falling into the trap of idolatry.
Deuteronomy 9:12 in other translations
American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people that 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.
World English Bible
Yahweh said to me, “Arise, get down quickly from here; for your people whom you have brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them. They have made a molten image for themselves!”
Douay-Rheims
And said to me: Arise, and go down from hence quickly: for thy people, which thou hast brought out of Egypt, have quickly forsaken the way that thou hast shewn them, and have made to themselves a molten idol.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the Lord said vnto me, Arise, get thee downe quickly from hence: for thy people which thou hast brought out of Egypt, haue corrupt their wayes: they are soone turned out of the way, which I commanded them: they haue made them a molten image.