complete verse (Exodus 32:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 32:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Moses said that, ‘It is not like the joy of victory or shouting of those who are defeated but, those are just people who are singing (and dancing).’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Moses answered: this is not the sound of those having victory, nor the sound of those having been defeated. I (emph.) am hearing the sound of singing.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Moises answered, ‘That is not a sound of victory or defeat, but-rather that (is) the sound of singing.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “But Moses said,
    ‘This is not [the case]. Their noise is not like people winning a fight.
    And it’s not like people’s enemies winning [against] them either.
    But I hear their sound like people singing.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And Moses answered for him it «Not be shout of war that I hear. I hear shout of music.»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “But Moses/I replied, ‘No, that is not the shouting that people do when they have won a victory or when they have been defeated in a battle What I hear is the sound of loud singing!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 32:18

But he said refers to Moses, so Good News Translation has “Moses said,” and New American Bible has “But Moses answered.” The rest of the verse has been generally recognized as poetry in the Hebrew, and New Revised Standard Version and others display it as such. There are three lines with four words to a line. Literally the Hebrew says:
Absence-of sound-of singing-of strength;
and-absence-of sound-of singing-of weakness;
sound-of singing I am-hearing.

The same Hebrew word for singing appears in each line, but the word may also mean “answering” or “responding.” The form of the word is intensified in the third line, suggesting a form of cultic singing. Jerusalem Bible has “chanting” in this line. Since it is usually impossible to retain such a play on words, translations show a variety of interpretations.

The words for “strength” and “weakness” are obviously in contrast with each other. One may say “victory” and “defeat” (Good News Translation), “victors” and “losers” (New Revised Standard Version), or “prevailing” and “failing” (Fox). Depending on the choice of these contrasting terms, the rendering of the keyword, singing, may have to be adjusted accordingly: “shout of victory” and “cry of defeat” (Good News Translation); “heroes exulting” and “losers lamenting” (Durham); or “war cries” and “wailing of the defeated” (Translator’s Old Testament).

Translators, however, should first determine whether poetic form in this case is natural in the receptor language. (See the introduction to chapter 15 for a discussion on translating poetry.) The emotional condition of Moses at this point could be one of grave disappointment over what he suspects the Israelites are doing, or it could already be one of intense anger, as the following verses suggest. It may therefore be inappropriate in some cultures to give expression to these moods in poetic form. Good News Translation has chosen not to reveal the poetic form for this very reason. Contemporary English Version also avoids poetic form, with “It doesn’t sound like they are shouting because they have won or lost a battle.” But the sound of singing that I hear may also be expressed as “Instead, I hear them singing.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .