Exodus 17:2

¹ And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

³ And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

⁴ And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

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: So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”
KJV: Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
WEB: Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?”
ASV: Wherefore the people stove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah?
DARBY: And the people contended with Moses, and said, Give us water, that we may drink! And Moses said to them, Why do ye dispute with me? Why do ye tempt Jehovah?
BLB: And the people contended with Moses and said, “Give to us water, that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you⁺ contend with me? Why do you⁺ test YHWH?”

ÅB: Da kivedes folket med Moses og sa: Gi oss vann, så vi får drikke! Moses svarte dem: Hvorfor kives dere med meg? Hvorfor frister dere Herren?
OTB: Folket klandret Moses og krevde: «Gi oss vann å drikke.» Moses svarte: «Hvorfor klandrer dere meg? Hvorfor setter dere Herren på prøve?»
B1930: Da kivedes folket med Moses og sa: Gi oss vann, så vi får drikke! Moses svarte dem: Hvorfor kives I med mig? Hvorfor frister I Herren?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 78:18
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 6:16
Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 10:9
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
Read in context
Psalms 78:41
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Read in context
Isaiah 7:12
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
Read in context
Hebrews 3:9
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Read in context
Numbers 20:2–5
And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
Read in context
Numbers 21:5
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Read in context