The LORD REPENTED of the EVIL which he thought to do unto his people

[tonychanyt]

Young's Literal Translation, Exodus 32:

12 why do the Egyptians speak, saying, For evil [H7451] He brought them out to slay them among mountains, and to consume them from off the face of the ground? turn back from the heat of Thine anger, and repent of the evil [H7451] against Thy people.

Strong's Hebrew: 7451. רָע (ra') — 667 Occurrences

This word has a wide range of meanings and usages, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeasure, distress
From ra'a'; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) -- adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure), distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. Feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

It could mean as trivial as mischief to as serious as evil.

NIV Exodus 32:

12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.

In this case, NIV opted to translate the same Hebrew words into two different English words to suit the respective immediate contexts. The word "evil" is used for what the Egyptians say, and the word "disaster" is used for what God does to the people.

King James Bible Exodus 32:

14 the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

New King James Version:

So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.

Even the King James translators modernized their old King James' "evil" to the new King James' "harm".

In what sense is the word evil used in Exodus 32:12–14?

Most versions agree that the Hebrew word means harm or disaster in this context.

 

[AV1611VET]

In what sense is the word evil used in Exodus 32:12–14?

In light of ...

Exodus 32:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

... I believe He was going to wipe them all out and start over.

HOWEVER

God may have intended to leave a remnant behind -- like He did many times afterwards.

 

[Carl Emerson]

As with Job, God used Satan to expose his righteous servant to evil affliction.

Same with Israel - God was not the agent - Satan was, within God's defined bounds.

 

[Diamond72]

God may have intended to leave a remnant behind -- like He did many times afterwards.

God does repopulate the earth with a remnant or 10%. I believe one third will be saved.

"This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Zechariah 13:9

 

[BPPLEE]

Young's Literal Translation, Exodus 32:


Strong's Hebrew: 7451. רָע (ra') — 667 Occurrences

This word has a wide range of meanings and usages, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:


It could mean as trivial as mischief to as serious as evil.

NIV Exodus 32:


In this case, NIV opted to translate the same Hebrew words into two different English words to suit the respective immediate contexts. The word "evil" is used for what the Egyptians say, and the word "disaster" is used for what God does to the people.

King James Bible Exodus 32:


New King James Version:


Even the King James translators modernized their old King James' "evil" to the new King James' "harm".

In what sense is the word evil used in Exodus 32:12–14?

Most versions agree that the Hebrew word means harm or disaster in this context.

I think that the Lord repented is more difficult to understand

 

[All Becomes New]

It should be understood that the same sort of thing can be found here:

Isaiah 45:7
"I form light and create darkness,
I make success and create disaster;
I am the LORD, who does all these things."

Also, it should be understood that God raised up Pharoah for the purpose of displaying His power because He knew how Pharoah would respond.

We can get hung up on the details, but Hebrew is a language that has very few abstract words. More often, Hebrew words are used to represent something else. I don't say this to say that evil in this case is using a thing to describe something abstract. I simply say it to show that Hebrew is a completely different language and as such understanding it in 21st-century language is not going to jive well with the original intent of the author unless you have studied a language like Hebrew in depth.

 

[AV1611VET]

I think that the Lord repented is more difficult to understand

Not at all.

Repent means to change course 180°

One can repent of his sins, and one can repent of his decisions.

If I decide I want to go to the store, then change my mind and decide not to, I have repented of my decision to go to the store.

God decided to wipe out Israel and start over, but Moses "talked Him out of it," and He "changed His mind" and decided not to.

 

[All Becomes New]

Not at all.

Repent means to change course 180°

One can repent of his sins, and one can repent of his decisions.

If I decide I want to go to the store, then change my mind and decide not to, I have repented of my decision to go to the store.

God decided to wipe out Israel and start over, but Moses "talked Him out of it," and He "changed His mind" and decided not to.

Repent does not mean just changing your mind. It means looking to Christ as the author and perfector of your faith. As such, God does not repent because he is not guilty.

 

[AV1611VET]

Repent does not mean just changing your mind. It means looking to Christ as the author and perfector of your faith. As such, God does not repent because he is not guilty.

Agreed.

 

[All Becomes New]

Agreed.

Well, that was a lot easier than I was anticipating. Thanks! I was honestly expecting some pushback in some way.

 

[AV1611VET]

Well, that was a lot easier than I was anticipating. Thanks! I was honestly expecting some pushback in some way.

I could always repent and give you a hard time.

(Just kidding! )