Exodus 33:4
ESV
When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
NIV
When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.
NASB
When the people heard this sad word, they went into mourning, and none of them put on his jewelry.
CSB
When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn’t put on their jewelry.
NLT
When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes.
KJV
And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
NKJV
And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
What does Exodus 33:4 mean?
God is angry with the nation of Israel. They have responded to His laws (Exodus 20:3–6) with idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6). He would have been justified in destroying them and starting over (Exodus 32:7–10). But this is not how He intends to fulfill promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 32:13). He has just ordered the people to move on from Sinai and towards the Promised Land (Exodus 33:1).However, the covenant has been violated, and there is separation between the people and their Lord. God noted this by saying He would not accompany Israel in the same way He had been (Exodus 33:2–3). Israel responds to this with mourning. Even though they will survive, and God's plans are still in effect, the people grasp how serious their sin was. They will put away fine clothes and jewelry (Exodus 33:5–6) as a sign of their repentance.
