Contradiction with Exodus 32:32
This verse speaks about Moses' plea for God to forgive the people or to blot him out of the book, contrasting the people's willingness to give up their gold in Exodus 32:3.
Exodus 32:32: Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Contradiction with Exodus 20:23
Prohibits making gods of silver or gold, which contradicts the people's actions in bringing gold for the calf in Exodus 32:3.
Exodus 20:23: Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 9:21
Describes how Moses destroyed the golden calf and rebuked the people's idolatry, contrasting their initial willingness to part with their gold in Exodus 32:3.
Deuteronomy 9:21: And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
Contradiction with Exodus 20:4
Forbids the creation of graven images, opposing their action of making a golden calf with the jewelry collected as in Exodus 32:3.
Exodus 20:4: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:
Contradiction with Isaiah 40:19
Critiques the making of idols from gold, which highlights the folly in the actions taken by the people in Exodus 32:3.
Isaiah 40:19: The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
Paradox #1
Some people point out a possible contradiction between Exodus 32:3 and other passages like Exodus 12:35-36, which describe how the Israelites obtained gold from the Egyptians before leaving Egypt. The potential inconsistency arises because, in Exodus 32:3, the Israelites easily give up their gold to make a golden calf, suggesting they had a lot of gold, even though they were supposed to be fleeing in haste and should not have had much to spare. However, different interpretations suggest ways to reconcile this, such as suggesting not all wealth was given to the calf or was held collectively rather than individually.