Add parallel Print Page Options

But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”

The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai.[a] Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 17:6 Hebrew Horeb, another name for Sinai.

But the people were thirsty(A) for water there, and they grumbled(B) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die(C) of thirst?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone(D) me.”

The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff(E) with which you struck the Nile,(F) and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.(G) Strike(H) the rock, and water(I) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah[a](J) and Meribah[b](K) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing.
  2. Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling.