Exodus 17:13 kjv

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

Exodus 17:13 nkjv

So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Exodus 17:13 niv

So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 17:13 esv

And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

Exodus 17:13 nlt

As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.

Exodus 17 verses

Exodus 17 13 Meaning

Exodus 17:13 describes the outcome of the battle at Rephidim, stating that Joshua, leading the Israelite forces, achieved a comprehensive and decisive victory over the Amalekites and their army using military force. The term "overwhelmed" signifies a complete defeat, indicating that the Amalekites were routed and decimated by the Israelites. This victory was contingent on Moses' intercession, as depicted in the preceding verses, highlighting that human effort in battle was divinely empowered.

Exodus 17 13 Context

Exodus chapter 17 is set shortly after the Israelites' miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and receiving manna. They arrive at Rephidim, a place lacking water, and once again complain against Moses and the LORD. God instructs Moses to strike a rock, providing water (Meribah). Immediately after this display of divine provision and Israel's complaint, the Amalekites launch an unprovoked attack on the weary Israelites. This sudden assault represents a grave test of Israel's faith and trust in God's protection. Moses designates Joshua to lead the fighting, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur ascend a hill to intercede. The verse marks the culminating act of the physical battle, where Joshua, under Moses' divinely empowered support, defeats Amalek.

Historically, the Amalekites were descendants of Esau (Gen 36:12). Their attack was particularly egregious as they ambushed the Israelites from the rear, targeting the vulnerable, the weak, and the stragglers (Deut 25:17-19), indicating a treacherous and cowardly act of cruelty. This unprovoked aggression, fueled by an ancient hatred, established Amalek as a perennial enemy of God's people, deserving of divine judgment.

Exodus 17 13 Word analysis

• So (וַיַּחֲלֹשׁ - wayyaḥălōš): The initial waw consecutive indicates that this action follows directly from and is a result of the preceding narrative, particularly Moses' upraised hands and Israel's continued perseverance in battle.
• Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - Yəhôšua‘): Means "The LORD is salvation" or "The LORD saves." This is his first recorded military command and demonstrates his nascent leadership under Moses. His name itself foreshadows God's salvific work, notably fulfilled in Jesus (a Greek equivalent of Joshua).
• overwhelmed (וַיַּחֲלֹשׁ - wayyaḥălōš): Derived from the Hebrew root ḥālaš (חָלַשׁ), meaning "to weaken," "to discomfit," "to prostrate," or "to incapacitate." It conveys more than just defeat; it signifies a decisive and debilitating blow that rendered the enemy ineffective and incapable of continued resistance. It suggests utter rout and subjugation.
• Amalek (עֲמָלֵק - ʿămālēq): Refers to the Amalekite people and their leader. As descendants of Esau, they embody a lineage that harbors ancient animosity towards Jacob/Israel, marked by an unprovoked and vicious assault on God's chosen people.
• and his people (וְאֶת־עַמּוֹ - wə’eṯ-ʿammô): This phrase emphasizes the collective nature of the defeat. It was not just the leader but the entire military force that suffered this decisive overthrow, indicating a complete and total victory.
• with the edge of the sword (לְפִי־חָרֶב - ləfî-ḥāreḇ): Literally "to the mouth of the sword." This is a common Hebrew idiom for complete annihilation or severe slaughter by means of a cutting weapon. It implies a thorough, devastating military victory achieved by lethal force, where the enemy was utterly destroyed or rendered incapable by the sword.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek": This phrase attributes the immediate military success to Joshua's leadership and the efforts of the Israelite army. It highlights human responsibility in battle, while the wider context makes clear that this victory was divinely enabled and sustained by Moses' intercession.
• "Amalek and his people": This group identifies the target of the victory. It signifies a collective enemy, known for its deep-seated animosity and treacherous acts against Israel, marking them for special divine judgment. The comprehensive defeat of "his people" emphasizes the totality of the vanquishment.
• "with the edge of the sword": This specifies the method of victory: through physical, lethal combat. It is an idiomatic expression signifying a decisive, thorough, and often brutal military defeat, emphasizing the absolute nature of the subjugation of Amalek. This indicates that the victory was definitive and left no room for ongoing threat from that particular engagement.

Exodus 17 13 Bonus section

• The battle against Amalek represents Israel's first post-exodus military conflict, defining them not just as a people saved from bondage but also as a nation capable of fighting their enemies, sustained by divine power.
• The severity of Amalek's actions at Rephidim led to a unique divine pronouncement in the very next verse (Exod 17:14), pledging God's eternal enmity against them, thus elevating this encounter beyond a mere skirmish to a cosmic struggle with enduring theological implications for God's justice against those who despise His covenant people.
• The event sets a significant precedent for the combined role of prayer (Moses) and direct action (Joshua) in overcoming obstacles. It illustrates that spiritual warfare and physical engagement are interconnected in God's plan for victory.

Exodus 17 13 Commentary

Exodus 17:13 stands as a profound testament to the principle of divine enablement in human action. Joshua's "overwhelming" of Amalek "with the edge of the sword" portrays a tangible military triumph, yet the preceding verses clarify that this physical success was intrinsically linked to Moses' upraised hands, symbolizing fervent prayer and divine authority. This establishes a foundational lesson for Israel: while human agents (Joshua and his soldiers) engage in the actual fight, true victory originates from God's power. Amalek, an enemy characterized by unprovoked and malicious attack against the vulnerable, becomes an archetype of persistent opposition to God's people throughout biblical history. Their complete defeat, described vividly with the idiom "edge of the sword," underscores God's righteous judgment against such ungodly aggression. This event inaugurates Joshua's military leadership and demonstrates the formidable strength available when faith and action converge, setting a precedent for future battles where Israel would trust in God for their ultimate vindication.