All things bear record · Exodus

Exodus 32

5 witnesses of Christ here.

Jehovah

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: Exodus 32:7–10

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, sees Israel's idolatry and speaks to Moses about it. The God who delivered them feels the weight of their turning away.

VerifiedJehovah — the LORDHe speaks in the first person

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

  • the same event in Deuteronomy 9:12 — Moses recounts the LORD telling him to get down quickly because the people had corrupted themselves.

Moses as a Type of Christ

And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Exodus 32:11–13

Moses stands between an angry God and a guilty people and pleads for them, reminding God of His covenant. He foreshadows Jesus Christ, the Mediator who intercedes for sinners before the Father.

VerifiedProphecy or typeA person who is a type of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

  • the same event in Deuteronomy 9:26 — Moses recounts praying, 'O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance.'
  • a type of what is in Hebrews 7:25 — He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Moses as a Type of Christ

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. Exodus 32:30–32

Moses goes up to God to make atonement for people who have sinned and offers himself in their place. He foreshadows Jesus Christ, the Mediator who actually did give Himself for sinners and pleads their cause before the Father.

VerifiedProphecy or typeA person who is a type of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

  • a type of what is in Isaiah 53:12 — He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
  • a type of what is in 1 John 2:1-2 — We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.
  • the same event in Deuteronomy 9:18 — Moses recounts falling down before the LORD forty days and nights because of Israel's sin.

Judgment

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Exodus 32:33

Jehovah answers that each person is accountable for his own sin and He keeps the book of life. Jesus Christ, the Judge, later promises not to blot out the names of those who overcome.

VerifiedJehovah — the LORDHe speaks in the first person

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

  • alluded to by Revelation 3:5 — He that overcometh ... I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.

The Angel of the LORD

Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. Exodus 32:34

Jehovah promises His Angel will lead Israel. Some read this Angel, of whom the LORD said 'my name is in him', as a manifestation of Christ; in the next chapter the LORD distinguishes the angel from His own presence, so the identification is uncertain.

VerifiedEchoA pronoun that refers to Himthe Father or the Son

How we know: a traditional type, cited

  • alludes to Exodus 23:20-21 — I send an Angel before thee ... for my name is in him.
  • alluded to by Isaiah 63:9 — The angel of his presence saved them.