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When Israel heard the fiery law The golden calf
John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 18, under Exodus 32:4, 31.
WRITTEN BY
John Newton 1725–1807
PRINTED
1779 Olney Hymns · no. 18
METRE
Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 7 stanzas
WRITTEN ON
Exodus 32:4, 31 the verse printed above it
The hymn, and the Scripture in it
All 7 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.
SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes
AMONG THE SCRIPTURES
The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.
a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here
STANZA I
When Israel heard the fiery law
When Israel heard the fiery law,
From Sinai’s top proclaimed;
Their hearts seemed full of holy awe,
Their stubborn spirits tamed.
Where Newton found it
Newton printed the hymn under Exodus 32:4, 31. The line that comes closest to it is marked.
4He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 31So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. EXODUS 32:4, 31 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ EXODUS 32
Yet, as forgetting all they knew, Ere forty days were past; With blazing Sinai still in view, A molten calf they cast. STANZA II
Its place in the book
Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 18. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.
NO. 18 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN When Israel heard the fiery law
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