4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.
4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
4 When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
4 When the people heard this harsh verdict, they were plunged into gloom and wore long faces. No one put on jewelry.
4 And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.
4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 33:4
Commentary on Exodus 33:1-6
(Read Exodus 33:1-6)
Those whom God pardons, must be made to know what their sin deserved. "Let them go forward as they are;" this was very expressive of God's displeasure. Though he promises to make good his covenant with Abraham, in giving them Canaan, yet he denies them the tokens of his presence they had been blessed with. The people mourned for their sin. Of all the bitter fruits and consequences of sin, true penitents most lament, and dread most, God's departure from them. Canaan itself would be no pleasant land without the Lord's presence. Those who parted with ornaments to maintain sin, could do no less than lay aside ornaments, in token of sorrow and shame for it.