King James Bible
"For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee."
God declares Israel's stubborn rebellion through the metaphor of a stiff neck—an animal that refuses to be guided by its master. This pronouncement comes after the golden calf incident, where Israel violated the covenant even while Moses received the law on Sinai. God warns that His holy presence among a sinful people would result in their destruction. The threat underscores the danger of divine holiness encountering human rebellion, creating a crisis that requires resolution before God can dwell with Israel. The command to remove ornaments serves as both an act of mourning and a test of repentance. God's anthropomorphic language about determining their fate creates space for intercession while demanding visible signs of contrition from the people.