The Hebrew in Exodus 32:24 that is translated as “I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf” or similar in English is translated in Chitonga as “Then I put it in the fire and — lo and behold this calf here!”

Wendland (1987, p. 137) explains: “When Moses confronts Aaron concerning the golden calf incident, the latter attempts to excuse himself by pleading ignorance, while he attributes the calf to some sort of magical trick. The Tonga emphasizes the climax of Aaron’s account, which would seem to absolve him from any direct blame in the affair, by translating in [the above-mentioned way]. This brings out the assumed wonder in Aaron’s words.”