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Exodus 17:7

IsraelMassahMeribah (of Horeb)
DoubtTrials and adversityGod's presenceWaiting on God

5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

8 After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”

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BSB
He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
KJV
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
WEB
He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”
ASV
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not?
DARBY
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they had tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not?
BLB
And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the sons of Israel, and because of their testing of YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us, or not?”
ÅB
Og han kalte stedet Massa[^1] og Meriba[^2], fordi Israels barn kivedes med ham, og fordi de fristet Herren og sa: Er Herren iblant oss eller ikke?
OTB
Han kalte stedet Massah og Meriba på grunn av israelittenes klandring, og fordi de satte Herren på prøve ved å spørre: «Er Herren blant oss eller ikke?»
B1930
Og han kalte stedet Massa og Meriba, fordi Israels barn kivedes med ham, og fordi de fristet Herren og sa: Er Herren iblandt oss eller ikke? / < fristelse.> < kiv.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 81:7

    You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

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  • Numbers 20:13

    These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

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  • Psalms 95:8

    do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness,

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  • Deuteronomy 9:22

    You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah.

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  • Exodus 17:2

    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?”

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  • Hebrews 3:8–9

    do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,

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  • Acts 7:37–39

    This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’

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  • Numbers 20:24

    “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

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