Exodus 32:15
Exodus 32:15 in Multiple Translations
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
¶ And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
Then Moses came down the mountain with the two stones of the law in his hand; the stones had writing on their two sides, on the front and on the back.
Moses turned and went down the mountain, carrying the two stone tablets of the Law written on both sides.
So Moses returned and went downe from the mountaine with the two Tables of the Testimonie in his hande: the Tables were written on both their sides, euen on the one side and on the other were they written.
And Moses turneth, and goeth down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony [are] in his hand, tables written on both their sides, on this and on that [are] they written;
Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides. They were written on one side and on the other.
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
And Moses returned from the mount, carrying the two tables of the testimony in his hand, written on both sides,
Moses/I turned away from God and went down the mountain, carrying in his hands the two stone slabs on which Yahweh had engraved his commandments. He had written on both sides of the slabs.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 32:15
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Exodus 32:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 32:15
Study Notes — Exodus 32:15
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 32:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 32:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 32:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 32:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
- Sermons on Exodus 32:15
Context — The Golden Calf
15Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
16The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 9:15 | So I went back down the mountain while it was blazing with fire, with the two tablets of the covenant in my hands. |
| 2 | Exodus 40:20 | Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 5:22 | The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. |
| 4 | Exodus 16:34 | And Aaron placed it in front of the Testimony, to be preserved just as the LORD had commanded Moses. |
| 5 | Exodus 24:18 | Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. |
| 6 | Psalms 19:7 | The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. |
| 7 | Exodus 31:18 | When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. |
| 8 | Revelation 5:1 | Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. |
Exodus 32:15 Summary
This verse tells us that Moses came down from the mountain with two special stones, called tablets, that had God's laws written on them. The laws were written on both sides of the stones, which shows how complete and important God's laws are. Just like Moses, we should carefully follow God's laws and commands, as seen in Psalm 119:105, and remember that Jesus taught us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind in Matthew 22:37-40. By doing so, we can show our love and respect for God, just as Moses did when he carefully carried the tablets down the mountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two tablets of the Testimony that Moses had in his hands?
The two tablets of the Testimony refer to the tablets of stone that God wrote the Ten Commandments on, as mentioned in Exodus 31:18 and Deuteronomy 9:10. These tablets were a physical representation of the covenant between God and His people.
Why were the tablets inscribed on both sides?
The tablets being inscribed on both sides, front and back, signifies the completeness and thoroughness of God's law, as seen in Exodus 32:15. This also emphasizes the importance of obeying God's commands from every angle, as Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37-40.
What is the significance of Moses turning and going down the mountain with the tablets?
Moses' descent from the mountain with the tablets in hand symbolizes the transition from receiving God's law to implementing it among His people, much like Jesus' descent from the mountain after the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 8:1. This act of obedience is crucial in our own walk with God, as seen in James 1:22.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the story in Exodus?
This verse serves as a turning point in the narrative, as Moses is about to encounter the idolatry of the Israelites, which is contrasted with the holy law of God written on the tablets, highlighting the tension between obedience and disobedience, as seen in Exodus 32:1-6 and Romans 7:14-25.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to 'descend the mountain' and apply God's commands in my everyday life, just as Moses did?
- How can I ensure that I am obeying God's laws from every angle, just like the tablets were inscribed on both sides?
- What are some ways that I can reverence and honor the law of God, just as Moses carefully carried the tablets down the mountain?
- In what ways can I, like Moses, be a mediator between God and others, sharing the love and commands of God with those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 32:15
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 32:15
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 32:15
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 32:15
Sermons on Exodus 32:15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Shout Unto God With the Voice of Triumph by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for obedience to God in order to win spiritual battles. He uses the story of David and Goliath as an example of someone who had fai |
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A Shout, a Cry, or a Song by C. William Fisher | C. William Fisher preaches about the importance of the Church focusing on its primary duty of winning souls to Christ. Drawing parallels from the story of Moses and the golden calf |
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Moses of Old by Clement of Rome | Clement of Rome reflects on the appointment of ministers by those in Christ, drawing parallels to the faithful servant Moses who recorded God's injunctions in the sacred books. He |
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The Wearing Down of the Saints by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of people waiting in line to be prayed for and seeking a touch or word from a man instead of seeking God directly. The speaker refer |
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The Awesome Voice of God by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of hearing and heeding the voice of God. He highlights the story of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where God spoke to them in |
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Prophetic Reality Versus Fantasy by Art Katz | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the prevalence of fantasy and escapism in our culture, particularly in the entertainment industry. He highlights the example of a space-theme |
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The Fire of God by Dick Hussey | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the book of Deuteronomy and the importance of the spoken word of God. He emphasizes the power and impact of the living, burning word of God m |






