The Meaning of Exodus 32:17 Explained

Exodus 32:17

KJV: And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

YLT: And Joshua heareth the voice of the people in their shouting, and saith unto Moses, 'A noise of battle in the camp!'

Darby: And Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, and said to Moses, There is a shout of war in the camp.

ASV: And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when Joshua  heard  the noise  of the people  as they shouted,  he said  unto Moses,  [There is] a noise  of war  in the camp. 

What does Exodus 32:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 32:15-24 - Moses Breaks The Tables And Burns The Calf
There was no weak compromise on the part of Moses. He cast the tables from his hands as though he felt that the covenant between God and the Hebrew race was hopelessly broken. He remonstrated with Aaron, destroyed the calf, and appointed the tribe of Levi as the executors of divine justice. How striking the act that forced the people to drink the dust of the golden calf! Men always have to drink the dust of their idolatries. You cannot make an idol without growing into the likeness of your idol and becoming, some day, nauseated with it.
As Israel turned from the splendors that shone on the summit of Sinai to fashion the calf, and found that the end of those things was misery, so those who turn from the Savior, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His Person, pierce themselves through with many sorrows and perish. See Hebrews 12:25. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 32

1  The people in the absence of Moses, caused Aaron to make a calf
7  God informs Moses, who intercedes for Israel, and prevails
15  Moses comes down with the tablets
19  He breaks them
20  He destroys the calf
22  Aaron's excuse for himself
25  Moses causes the idolaters to be slain
30  He prays for the people

What do the individual words in Exodus 32:17 mean?

And when heard Joshua - the noise of the people as they shouted and he said to Moses [There is] a noise of war in the camp
וַיִּשְׁמַ֧ע יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶת־ ק֥וֹל הָעָ֖ם בְּרֵעֹ֑ה‪‬ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה ק֥וֹל מִלְחָמָ֖ה בַּֽמַּחֲנֶה‪‬

וַיִּשְׁמַ֧ע  And  when  heard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ  Joshua 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ  
Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
ק֥וֹל  the  noise 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
הָעָ֖ם  of  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּרֵעֹ֑ה‪‬  as  they  shouted 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: shouting, roar.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  and  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
ק֥וֹל  [There  is]  a  noise 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
מִלְחָמָ֖ה  of  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
בַּֽמַּחֲנֶה‪‬  in  the  camp 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.