Definition: And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, [and] had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Deuteronomy 9:16. It’s a really important and serious passage about obedience and God’s holiness. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Imagine a group of people – the Israelites – were being led by Moses. They were building a temple, a special place for God to worship and live with them. During this process, they started making a calf – a god-like creature – and then immediately disobeyed God’s instructions about what that temple should be like. Let's unpack the key parts: “And I looked…” : This is Moses looking back at what happened. It’s a moment of realization and shame. “…ye had sinned against the LORD your God…” : This means they actively disobeyed God. They were defying his rules and commands. It was a conscious choice to disobey him. “…and had made you a molten calf:” This is the really shocking part. They built a temple out of clay, but instead of using stone or wood, they used a special kind of clay that looked like gold and silver. They were making it look holy and godly, but it wasn't truly holy. It was an imitation, a false idol. “…ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.” : This is the crucial part. They immediately started to disobey God’s instructions – specifically, they were ignoring what he told them about what the temple should be like. They acted before getting a chance to fully understand or follow his plan. What it means in a nutshell: This verse is a warning about the dangers of disobedience and the importance of following God's laws exactly. It’s a reminder that we are all fallible and can make mistakes, but we must honor God by obeying his commands. It emphasizes that obedience isn’t just about doing what we want , it’s about doing what He wants. Why is this important? This story is considered one of the most serious in the Bible because it illustrates a significant turning point in Israel's history. It shows how easily they could stray from God and lead to disaster. It’s a call to faithfulness, obedience, and humility – all essential for a relationship with God. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme? Give an example of how disobedience might lead to consequences?