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Exodus 32:18

16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”

But Moses replied: “It is neither the cry of victory nor the cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!”

19 As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain.

20 Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But Moses replied: “It is neither the cry of victory nor the cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!”
KJV
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.
WEB
He said, “It isn’t the voice of those who shout for victory. It is not the voice of those who cry for being overcome; but the noise of those who sing that I hear.”
ASV
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.
DARBY
And he said, It is not the sound of a shout of victory, neither is it the sound of a shout of defeat: it is the noise of alternate singing I hear.
BLB
And he said, “[It is] not a voice of responses of might, and [it is] not a voice of responses of weakness; I hear a voice of singing.”
ÅB
Men han svarte: Det lyder ikke som seiersrop og ikke som skrik over mannefall; det er lyd av sang jeg hører.
OTB
Men Moses svarte: «Det er ikke lyden av seier, heller ikke lyden av nederlag; det er lyden av sang jeg hører.»
B1930
Men han svarte: Det lyder ikke som seiersrop og ikke som skrik over mannefall; det er lyd av sang jeg hører.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Daniel 5:4

    As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

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  • Exodus 15:1–18

    Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.

    Read in context

  • Daniel 5:23

    Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

    Read in context