Water from the Rock and War with Amalec

Exodus 17

At Raphidin the people again complain for lack of water, and Moses strikes a rock at the Lord's command to bring forth water for them to drink. Israel then fights and defeats Amalec while Moses holds up his hands on a hilltop, supported by Aaron and Or, and the Lord declares perpetual war against Amalec.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonWHEN all the congregation of the Israelites had removed from the wilderness of Sin according to their encampments by the command of the Lord and encamped at Raphidin and there was no water for the people to drink,

BrentonAnd all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the wilderness of Sin, according to their encampments, by the word of the Lord; and they encamped in Raphidin: and there was no water for the people to drink.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπῇρε πᾶσα συναγωγὴ υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου Σὶν κατὰ παρεμβολὰς αὐτῶν, διὰ ῥήματος Κυρίου· καὶ παρενεβάλοσαν ἐν Ῥαφιδείν· οὐκ ἦν δὲ ὕδωρ τῷ λαῷ πιεῖν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and encamped in Rephidim; and there was no water for the people to drink.

Thomsonand the people were reviling Moses and saying, Give us water that we may drink, Moses said to them, Why do you revile me? And why do you tempt the Lord?

BrentonAnd the people reviled Moses, saying, Give us water, that we may drink; and Moses said to them, Why do ye revile me, and why tempt ye the Lord?

GreekΚαὶ ἐλοιδορεῖτο ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγοντες, δὸς ἡμῖν ὕδωρ, ἵνα πίωμεν· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς, τί λοιδορεῖσθέ μοι, καὶ τί πειράζετε Κύριον;

KJVWherefore 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?

JPSWherefore the people strove with Moses, and said: ‘Give us water that we may drink.’ And Moses said unto them: ‘Why strive ye with me? wherefore do ye try the LORD?’

ThomsonNow when the people had thirsted there for water and murmured against Moses saying, How is this? Hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

BrentonAnd the people thirsted there for water, and there the people murmured against Moses, saying, Why is this? hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to slay us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

GreekἘδίψησε δὲ ἐκεῖ ὁ λαὸς ὕδατι· καὶ διεγόγγυσεν ἐκεῖ ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγοντες, ἱνατί τοῦτο; ἀνεβίβασας ἡμᾶς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἀποκτεῖναι ἡμᾶς καὶ τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν καὶ τὰ κτήνη τῷ δίψει;

KJVAnd 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?

JPSAnd the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said: ‘Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?’

ThomsonMoses cried to the Lord and said, What shall I do for this people? They are almost ready to stone me.

BrentonAnd Moses cried to the Lord, saying, What shall I do to this people? yet a little while and they will stone me.

GreekἘβόησε δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον, λέγων, τί ποιήσω τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ; ἔτι μικρὸν, καὶ καταλιθοβολὴσουσί με.

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

JPSAnd Moses cried unto the LORD, saying: ‘What shall I do unto this people? they are almost ready to stone me.’

ThomsonUpon which the Lord said to Moses, Go on at the head of the people, and take thee some of the elders of the people, and take in thy hand the staff with which thou didst smite the river.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to Moses, Go before this people, and take to thyself of the elders of the people; and the rod with which thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and thou shalt go.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, προπορεύου τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου· λάβε δὲ σεαυτῷ ἀπὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τοῦ λαοῦ· καὶ τὴν ῥάβδον, ἐν ᾗ ἐπάταξας τὸν ποταμὸν, λάβε ἐν τῇ χειρί σου, καὶ πορεύσῃ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go.

ThomsonAnd thou shalt go to the place where I before caused thee to stand on the rock at Choreb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and water will gush out that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the presence of the Israelites,

BrentonBehold, I stand there before thou come, on the rock in Choreb, and thou shalt smite the rock, and water shall come out from it, and the people shall drink. And Moses did so before the sons of Israel.

GreekὍδε ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐκεῖ πρὸ τοῦ σὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας ἐν Χωρήβ· καὶ πατάξεις τὴν πέτραν, καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ἐξ αὐτῆς ὕδωρ, καὶ πίεται ὁ λαός. Ἐποίησε δὲ Μωυσῆς οὕτως ἐναντίον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.

KJVBehold, 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.

JPSBehold, 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.

Thomsonand he called the name of that place, Temptation and Upbraiding, because of the upbraiding of the Israelites, and because they tempted the Lord and said, Is the Lord among us or not?

BrentonAnd he called the name of that place, Temptation, and Reviling, because of the reviling of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?

GreekΚαὶ ἐπωνόμασε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου, Πειρασμὸς, καὶ Λοιδόρησις, διὰ τὴν λοιδορίαν τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ διὰ τὸ πειράζειν Κύριον, λέγοντας, εἰ ἔστι Κύριος ἐν ἡμῖν, ἢ οὔ;

KJVAnd 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?

JPSAnd the name of the place was called Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tried the LORD, saying: ‘Is the LORD among us, or not?’

ThomsonNow Amalek had come and made war on Israel at Raphidin,

BrentonAnd Amalec came and fought with Israel in Raphidin.

GreekἮλθε δὲ Ἀμαλὴκ καὶ ἐπολέμει Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Ῥαφιδείν.

KJVThen came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

JPSThen came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

Thomsonupon which Moses said to Joshua, Select for thyself able men and go out and draw up in array to-morrow against Amalek; when lo I have stood on the top of that hill with the staff of God in my hand.

BrentonAnd Moses said to Joshua, Choose out for thyself mighty men, and go forth and set the army in array against Amalec to-morrow; and, behold, I shall stand on the top of the hill, and the rod of God will be in my hand.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς τῷ Ἰησοῖ, Ἐπίλεξον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς, καὶ ἐξελθὼν παράταξαι τῷ Ἀμαλὴκ αὔριον· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ βουνοῦ, καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd Moses said unto Joshua: ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.’

ThomsonSo Joshua did as Moses commanded him. And when he had gone out and drawn up in array against Amalek, and Moses and Aaron and Hur had gone up to the top of the hill,

BrentonAnd Joshua did as Moses said to him, and he went out and set the army in array against Amalec, and Moses and Aaron and Or went up to the top of the hill.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησεν Ἰησοῦς καθάπερ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς, καὶ ἐξελθὼν παρετάξατο τῷ Ἀμαλήκ· καὶ Μωυσῆς καὶ Ἀαρὼν καὶ Ὢρ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ βουνοῦ.

KJVSo 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.

JPSSo 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.

Thomsonit came to pass that when Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed; but when he let down his hands Amalek prevailed.

BrentonAnd it came to pass, when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands, Amalec prevailed.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὅταν ἐπῇρε Μωυσῆς τὰς χεῖρας, κατίσχυεν Ἰσραήλ· ὅταν δὲ καθῆκε τὰς χεῖρας, κατίσχυεν Ἀμαλήκ.

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

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

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

BrentonBut the hands of Moses were heavy, and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it; and Aaron and Or supported his hands one on this side and the other on that, and the hands of Moses were supported till the going down of the sun.

GreekΑἱ δὲ χεῖρες Μωυσῆ βαρεῖαι· καὶ λαβόντες λίθον ὑπέθηκαν ὑπʼ αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ· καὶ Ἀαρὼν καὶ Ὢρ ἐστήριζον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐντεῦθεν εἷς, καὶ ἐντεῦθεν εἷς· καὶ ἐγένοντο αἱ χεῖρες Μωυσῆ ἐστηριγμέναι ἕως δυσμῶν ἡλίου.

KJVBut 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.

JPSBut 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.

Thomsonand Joshua discomfited Amalek and his whole people with the slaughter of the sword.

BrentonAnd Joshua routed Amalec and all his people with the slaughter of the sword.

GreekΚαὶ ἐτρέψατο Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ἀμαλὴκ, καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας.

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

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

ThomsonThen the Lord said to Moses, Write this in a book to keep it in remembrance; and rehearse it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will entirely blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and speak this in the ears of Joshua; for I will utterly blot out the memorial of Amalec from under heaven.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, Κατάγραψον τοῦτο εἰς μνημόσυνον εἰς βιβλίον, καὶ δὸς εἰς τὰ ὦτα Ἰησοῖ· ὅτι ἀλοιφῇ ἐξαλείψω τὸ μνημόσυνον Ἀμαλὴκ ἐκ τῆς ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν.

KJVAnd 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.

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

ThomsonAnd Moses built an altar to the Lord and called its name, The Lord my refuge;

BrentonAnd Moses built an altar to the Lord, and called the name of it, The Lord my Refuge.

GreekΚαὶ ᾠκοδόμησε Μωυσῆς θυσιαστήριον Κυρίῳ· καὶ ἐπωνόμασε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, Κύριος καταφυγή μου.

KJVAnd Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

JPSAnd Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Adonai-nissi.

Thomsonbecause with a secret hand the Lord fighteth against Amalek from generation to generation.

BrentonFor with a secret hand the Lord wages war upon Amalec to all generations.

GreekὍτι ἐν χειρὶ κρυφαίᾳ πολεμεῖ Κύριος ἐπὶ Ἀμαλὴκ ἀπὸ γενεῶν εἰς γενεάς.

KJV—

JPSAnd he said: ‘The hand upon the throne of the LORD: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’