Exodus 32:18

And he said, [It is] not the voice of [them that] shout for mastery, neither [is it] the voice of [them that] cry for being overcome: [but] the noise of [them that] sing do I hear.

And he said {H559}, It is not the voice {H6963} of them that shout {H6030} for mastery {H1369}, neither is it the voice {H6963} of them that cry {H6030} for being overcome {H2476}: but the noise {H6963} of them that sing {H6031} do I hear {H8085}.

He answered, "That is neither the clamor of victory nor the wailings of defeat; what I hear is the sound of people singing."

But Moses replied: β€œIt is neither the cry of victory nor the cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!”

And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

Commentary

Exodus 32:18 captures a pivotal moment as Moses and Joshua descend from Mount Sinai, unaware of the profound betrayal unfolding in the Israelite camp below. As they approach, Joshua interprets the distant clamor as the sound of war, but Moses, with keen spiritual discernment, corrects him. Moses recognizes it not as the shouts of battle, whether for victory or defeat, but as the unmistakable sound of singing and revelry, hinting at the idolatrous celebration of the golden calf.

Context

This verse occurs immediately after the Lord reveals to Moses on Mount Sinai that the Israelites, whom Moses had left for forty days, had corrupted themselves. While Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments, the people, impatient for his return, coerced Aaron into making a golden calf, which they then worshipped (see Exodus 32:1-6). Moses and Joshua are now on their way down the mountain, and the sounds from the camp are the first physical manifestation of the people's apostasy they encounter.

Key Themes

  • Discernment vs. Misinterpretation: Joshua, a seasoned warrior, naturally interprets the loud noise as sounds of combat. Moses, however, demonstrates profound spiritual discernment, recognizing the true nature of the sound – revelry associated with idolatry – even before seeing the scene. This highlights the difference between earthly and spiritual understanding.
  • The Nature of False Worship: The "noise of them that sing" reveals the people's misguided worship. This was not a solemn act of devotion to God but a boisterous, sensual celebration, indicative of their turning away from the true God to pagan practices. This scene sets the stage for God's righteous anger and the severe consequences that follow, as detailed in Exodus 32:7-10.
  • Impending Judgment: Moses' immediate recognition of the singing's true nature foreshadows the devastating judgment about to fall upon the Israelites for their grievous sin. The revelry was a precursor to divine wrath.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "voice" or "noise" used here is qol (Χ§Χ•Χœ), which can refer to a wide range of sounds, from a human voice to thunder. Moses' discerning ear distinguishes between the "voice" (qol) of battle and the "noise" (qol) of singing. This subtle distinction in the KJV reflects Moses' precise understanding of the sound's origin and intention. It wasn't the sound of an external enemy, but an internal corruption manifesting in a joyful, yet sinful, celebration.

Practical Application

Exodus 32:18 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of spiritual discernment. In our own lives, not every "joyful noise" or popular movement is aligned with God's will. We are called to develop the ability to distinguish between genuine worship and activities that, while seemingly innocent or even celebratory, may be rooted in rebellion or misdirection. Like Moses, we must seek God's perspective to understand the true nature of what we encounter, being wary of anything that leads us away from worshiping God in spirit and truth.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 5:23

    But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

  • Exodus 15:1

    ΒΆ Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

  • Exodus 15:18

    The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

  • Daniel 5:4

    They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
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