Original Word: חֲלוּשָׁה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: chaluwshah
Pronunciation: khah-loo-SHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-oo-shaw')
KJV: being overcome
NASB: defeat
Word Origin: [feminine passive participle of H2522 (חָלַשׁ - lies prostrate)]

1. defeat

being overcome

Feminine passive participle of chalash; defeat -- being overcome.

see HEBREW chalash

Word Origin
fem. pass. part. of chalash
Definition
weakness, prostration
NASB Translation
defeat (1).

חֲלוּשָׁה noun feminine weakness, prostration, אֵין ׳קוֺל עֲנוֺת ח Exodus 32:18 it is not the sound of the answering of weakness (J E; opposed to גְּבוּרָה).

Overview

חֲלוּשָׁה (chalushah) appears once in the Hebrew Bible, Exodus 32:18, where Moses tells Joshua, “It is not the sound of victory, and it is not the sound of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!” (Berean Standard Bible). The word rendered “defeat” conveys the idea of weakness, being overcome, or collapse. Though its lexical profile is slight, its theological and pastoral resonance is rich, touching themes of spiritual warfare, discernment, and the tragedy of idolatry.

Setting in Exodus 32

1. Immediate Context
• Joshua mistakes the raucous celebration around the golden calf for the clamor of battle (Exodus 32:17).
• Moses, informed by God on the mountain, discerns that the sound is neither triumph nor חֲלוּשָׁה but unholy revelry (32:18).
• The word therefore stands at a pivot between two poles—victory and worship—highlighting Israel’s actual condition: neither conquering nor conquered militarily, yet spiritually overthrown.

2. Narrative Function
• חֲלוּשָׁה exposes Israel’s unseen defeat. Outwardly they rejoice; inwardly they have fallen.
• The verse contrasts the people’s perception of strength (their celebratory “singing”) with divine assessment: idolatry has rendered them weak.

Theological Themes

1. Spiritual Defeat versus Military Defeat
• Scripture often portrays physical defeat as a consequence of covenant infidelity (Deuteronomy 28:25). Exodus 32 shows defeat preceded by judgment, not swords.
• The single use of חֲלוּשָׁה underscores how catastrophic idolatry is—worse than losing a battle, because it severs fellowship with God (cf. Judges 2:11-15).

2. Discernment in Leadership
• Joshua, a seasoned warrior, hears battle; Moses, fresh from God’s presence, recognizes spiritual compromise. Effective leadership requires more than martial skill—it demands spiritual perception (1 John 4:1).

3. Worship and Warfare
• True worship is a weapon (2 Chronicles 20:21-22), but counterfeit worship heralds defeat. The golden calf episode turns a choir into the soundtrack of collapse, illustrating that the heart of worship matters more than its volume (John 4:24).

Historical and Ministry Significance

1. Israel’s National Witness
• At Sinai, Israel should have been consecrated as “a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). Their idolatry broadcasts the opposite: weakness and inconsistency before the nations.

2. Typological Pointer to Christ
• Israel’s failure magnifies the necessity of a perfect Mediator. Moses intercedes (Exodus 32:30-32), foreshadowing the greater mediation of Jesus Christ, whose victory ensures that believers will “not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).

3. Pastoral Warnings
• Churches can mistake noise for vitality. Programs, music, and growth metrics can mask moral collapse. חֲלוּשָׁה challenges leaders to assess health by holiness, not activity (Revelation 3:1-2).

New Testament Echoes

While the specific term does not reappear, its concept saturates apostolic teaching:

• “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power” (2 Corinthians 13:4). Christ identifies with human weakness to achieve ultimate victory, reversing חֲלוּשָׁה.

• “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). Strength is sourced in union with Christ, preventing spiritual collapse.

Practical Application

1. Cultivate Discernment
• Regular exposure to Scripture tunes the ear to distinguish true worship from empty celebration.

2. Guard Corporate Worship
• Evaluate songs and liturgy for theological fidelity; worship that feeds the flesh courts חֲלוּשָׁה.

3. Address Hidden Idols
• Modern idols—materialism, image, autonomy—can silently deliver defeat. Confession and accountability are safeguards.

4. Lead from God’s Presence
• Moses’ ability to diagnose the situation flowed from time with God. Pastors and parents alike must prioritize communion with the Lord to perceive spiritual realities accurately.

Conclusion

חֲלוּשָׁה, though rare in form, sounds a timeless alarm. Physical conquest and lively music mean little if the heart bows to false gods. The antidote to such defeat is not mere resolve but renewed allegiance to the covenant-keeping God, whose strength is perfected in human weakness and whose Son secures unshakable victory for all who trust in Him.

חֲלוּשָׁ֑ה חלושה chaluShah ḥă·lū·šāh ḥălūšāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts