Exodus 15 23

Exodus 15:23 kjv

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Exodus 15:23 nkjv

Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Exodus 15:23 niv

When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.)

Exodus 15:23 esv

When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.

Exodus 15:23 nlt

When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means "bitter").

Exodus 15 verses

Exodus 15 23 Meaning

After the triumphant crossing of the Red Sea, the Israelites journeyed into the wilderness and faced their first major challenge: an acute lack of potable water. Upon reaching a place called Marah, they discovered water sources that were undrinkable due to their extreme bitterness, causing immediate distress and fear for their survival. The name "Marah," meaning "bitterness," was aptly given to the location, reflecting the people's dire experience there. This moment served as an initial test of their faith and dependence on God following His great deliverance.

Exodus 15 23 Context

This verse follows directly after the majestic "Song of the Sea" (Exod 15:1-19), in which Moses and the Israelites joyfully celebrated God's miraculous deliverance through the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army. After such a profound display of divine power and faithfulness, the very next experience of the Israelites is a severe challenge.

Exodus 15:22 notes that they had traveled for three days into the wilderness of Shur without finding any water. This period of increasing thirst heightens the tension and desperation. Marah is thus their first significant test and an immediate shift from triumph to trial. The scene at Marah sets the pattern for much of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness: a pattern of urgent need, immediate complaint against Moses and God, and God's faithful, though often corrective, provision. Historically, survival in the wilderness regions of the ancient Near East was entirely dependent on finding reliable water sources. The bitterness of the water at Marah rendered it completely unusable, posing an immediate life-threatening crisis for the vast multitude of Israelites and their livestock. This situation highlighted their total reliance on divine intervention and challenged their fledgling faith. The wilderness served as a proving ground, intended by God to humble His people and teach them dependence, trust, and obedience, showing that their needs would be met by Him alone, not by their own efforts or the systems of the world they left behind.

Exodus 15 23 Word analysis

• And when they came: This phrase signifies the arrival at a new stage of their journey, three days after leaving the Red Sea (Exod 15:22). It implies an ongoing physical effort under challenging desert conditions, highlighting the increasing need for water.
• to Marah:
  • Hebrew: מָרָה (Marah).
  • Meaning: Bitterness. It is the verbal root for "bitter." This proper noun directly names the place based on its defining characteristic—the quality of its water. This practice of naming locations according to events or experiences was common in biblical narrative.
  • Significance: The name itself embodies the distress and disillusionment faced by the Israelites. It literally points to a place of physical and emotional bitterness, immediately creating a sense of dire circumstances.
• they could not drink:
  • Hebrew: לֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתּוֹת (lo yakhelu lishtot) – they were not able to drink.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the absolute impossibility of using the water. It was not merely unpleasant but utterly unpotable, meaning it was likely unsafe or too acrid for consumption, a critical problem for survival in an arid environment. It indicates a direct and immediate threat to life, highlighting the people's total vulnerability.
• of the waters: The plural form indicates there were multiple water sources or a body of water substantial enough to draw from, adding to the initial disappointment upon discovering its quality. The quest for water was their most pressing concern after days of travel without it.
• of Marah: Reinforces the association of the place name with the nature of the water found there.
• for they were bitter:
  • Hebrew: כִּי מָרִים הֵם (ki marim hem) – because they were bitter (plural).
  • Significance: This directly states the reason for their inability to drink. The term "bitter" goes beyond taste; it signifies undrinkable, often implying toxicity or extreme salinity in a desert context. This bitterness provoked the people's deep disappointment and complaint, revealing their human weakness after the recent miracle of deliverance.
• therefore the name of it was called Marah: This concludes the explanation for the place name, directly attributing it to the undrinkable bitter waters found there. It immortalizes the place as a symbol of trial, disappointment, and the beginning of the Israelites' grumbling against God and Moses.

Word-group analysis:

• "came to Marah... could not drink... for they were bitter": This sequence encapsulates the Israelites' immediate crisis. They journeyed hopefully, found water, but then discovered it was useless, leading to a profound sense of disappointment and urgency. It highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship between finding the water, its quality, and their subsequent inability to consume it. This setup emphasizes the rapid transition from physical journey to existential threat.
• "waters of Marah... the name of it was called Marah": This demonstrates the intrinsic link between the location and its defining characteristic. The problem is the place, and the place is named after the problem. It is an enduring marker of a difficult but pivotal experience in the Exodus narrative.

Exodus 15 23 Bonus section

• Contrast of Triumph and Trial: The narrative places the trial at Marah immediately after the magnificent Song of the Sea. This juxtaposition teaches that divine triumphs do not exempt believers from subsequent difficulties; rather, trials often follow victories, serving to deepen faith and dependence.
• First Wilderness Test: Marah is the initial point where the Israelites are forced to directly confront their survival without the visible structures or resources they knew in Egypt. It is the first formal test of their endurance, obedience, and trust in God's leadership in the untamed wilderness.
• The Problem of the Heart: While the problem at Marah was physically bitter water, the true test lay in the Israelites' "bitter" hearts—their swift descent into murmuring and lack of faith. This pattern throughout the wilderness demonstrates a fundamental issue within humanity, which God seeks to transform.

Exodus 15 23 Commentary

Exodus 15:23 marks the sharp transition from the overwhelming joy and victory of the Red Sea crossing to the harsh realities and immediate trials of the wilderness. After witnessing one of God's most spectacular interventions, the Israelites quickly encounter a crisis that exposes their fragile faith. Their three-day journey without water highlights human vulnerability and the indispensable nature of God's providence in an inhospitable environment. The discovery of bitter, undrinkable water at Marah underscores a profound irony: fresh from a miracle that parted a sea, they faced a small pool of water they could not use. This event was designed by God not as an oversight but as a crucible for faith, a test intended to reveal the depths of their dependence and His faithful character. The very name Marah, "bitterness," symbolizes the Israelites' immediate spiritual and emotional reaction—one of complaint and despair, rather than continued trust. It serves as a precursor to many such wilderness grumblings, yet also a stage for God to reveal Himself as "the Lord who heals" (Exod 15:26).