Bible Strands
Exodus 32:2
So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Aaron addresses the gathered Israelites at the moment Moses delays his descent from the mountain, commanding them to remove gold earrings from their wives, sons, and daughters. This instruction immediately follows the people's demand for a visible leader after they learn Moses is missing.
The words — The verb פָּרְקוּ (pa.re.Ku) literally means "tear off" or "remove," directing a forceful, physical action. The noun נִזְמֵי (niz.Mei) specifies "rings of gold" that were worn on the ears.
The thread — The collection of gold jewelry for a new cultic object parallels Exodus 12:35, where Israel took gold from Egypt, and diverges from Judges 8:24, where Gideon requests plundered earrings for a different purpose. Ezekiel 16:11 later uses gold adornment to describe God's own deliberate provision rather than human idolatry.
Why it lands — The text records the mechanical transfer of wealth from personal adornment to a human-made substitute when leadership vanishes. It requires the reader to identify which material securities they are prepared to dismantle when expected guidance fails.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
Cross-references
- Exodus 12:35 Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing.
- Judges 8:24 Then he added, “Let me make a request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” (For the enemies had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)
- Ezekiel 16:11 I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck.
- Ezekiel 16:17 You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself.
- Hosea 2:8 For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.
- Genesis 24:47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
- Exodus 35:22 So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.
- Genesis 24:22 And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.