Old Testament · Law

Exodus 17

Water from Rock

The people are thirsty and furious. Moses strikes a rock and water pours out. Even their complaints can't outrun God's provision.

King James Version BSB KJV

1And 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.

2Wherefore 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?

3And 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?

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

5And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7And 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?

8Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:

16For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Understand This

Exodus 17, explained

What Exodus 17 is saying

At Rephidim, Israel quarrels with Moses over the lack of water, and God instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb, producing water. The place is named Massah ('testing') and Meribah ('quarreling'). Then Amalek attacks, and Israel prevails in battle only while Moses holds up his hands; Aaron and Hur support his arms until sunset, and Joshua leads the military victory.

The background behind it

The Amalekite attack on Israel's vulnerable rear (cf. Deuteronomy 25:17–18) establishes a perpetual enmity. Joshua's first appearance as military commander here foreshadows his later role. The rock-striking miracle becomes a major typological text, with Paul identifying the rock as Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Themes running underneath

Water from the rock demonstrates God's provision despite Israel's faithlessness—they test God, and he responds with grace. The battle against Amalek introduces the theology of intercession: Moses' raised hands represent prayerful dependence on God, without which military skill alone is insufficient.

Why it still matters

The image of Aaron and Hur supporting Moses' arms is a powerful model of community in spiritual warfare. No leader can sustain intercession alone, and victory depends on collective faithfulness.

This is one chapter. BibleKey does all 1,189.

Tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and follow every cross-reference without losing your place.

Get BibleKey

All 40 chapters of Exodus · Every book of the Bible · Browse by topic

Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.