Exodus 17:5 kjv

And 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.

Exodus 17:5 nkjv

And the LORD said to Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.

Exodus 17:5 niv

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 with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Exodus 17:5 esv

And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

Exodus 17:5 nlt

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.

Exodus 17 verses

Exodus 17 5 Meaning

Exodus 17:5 details God’s specific instruction to Moses following the Israelites’ murmuring at Rephidim due to a lack of water. It outlines the precise steps Moses is to take: go before the people, bring some elders as witnesses, and most significantly, use the very staff that previously demonstrated divine power over the Nile. This command prepares for a miraculous provision of water from a rock, underscoring God’s sovereign care even amidst human rebellion, and confirming Moses' divinely appointed authority.

Exodus 17 5 Context

Exodus chapter 17 is situated immediately after the Israelites’ miraculous deliverance through the Red Sea and their subsequent journeys through Marah (bitter waters) and Elim (oases). Having encountered a shortage of water at Rephidim, the people grumble against Moses and the Lord, reminiscent of their earlier complaints. Moses, feeling overwhelmed by their demands and threats of stoning, cries out to the Lord. Verse 5 is the Lord’s direct response to Moses, providing a concrete action plan for divine provision. This event, known as Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarreling), serves as a perpetual reminder of Israel’s faithlessness and God’s enduring faithfulness. Historically and culturally, water in the desert was synonymous with life, making its absence a dire crisis and the source of extreme distress and complaint among the nomadic Israelites.

Exodus 17 5 Word analysis

• And the Lord (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה - vayyo’mer YHWH):

  • And the Lord: יְהוָה (YHWH), the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, active involvement and faithfulness to His people despite their rebellion. It underscores that the command and the ensuing miracle originate directly from Him, not from Moses's own power.

• said to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה - ’el-Moshe):

  • said to Moses: Highlights divine revelation and delegation. Moses is God's chosen intermediary and prophet, uniquely receiving direct instructions for the people. This reinforces Moses’ divine appointment and authority in a context where his leadership was being challenged.

• Pass on before (עֲבֹר לִפְנֵי - ’avor lifney):

  • Pass on before: The Hebrew ’avor lifney implies moving ahead or crossing over, going to the forefront. It indicates Moses is to separate himself from the main camp, to lead in a special capacity towards the site of the miracle. It also suggests Moses is taking on the role of a leader presenting himself and acting on God's behalf directly to the challenge.

• the people (הָעָם - ha’am):

  • the people: Refers to the whole congregation of Israel. Moses is to perform this act of faith and obedience publicly, setting an example for the very people who were complaining.

• and take with you some of the elders of Israel (וְקַח אִתְּךָ מִזִּקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - vəqach ’ittəka mizziqney Yisra’el):

  • and take with you: The command to include others.
  • some of the elders of Israel: זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (ziqney Yisra’el) were the recognized leaders and representatives of the tribes. Their presence serves as official witnesses to the divine miracle. This validates the act as God's doing, not a mere trick or human manipulation, thereby safeguarding against future accusations and ensuring the credibility of Moses and the miracle itself.

• and take in your hand your staff (וּמַטְּךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּקַּח בְּיָדְךָ - umattəka ’asher tiqqach bəyadekha):

  • and take in your hand your staff: The staff (מַטֶּה - matteh) is not merely a walking stick but a significant instrument of God's power, identified earlier as Moses’ shepherd's rod that had already performed wonders. Holding it "in your hand" signifies active wielding of God's delegated authority.

• with which you struck the Nile (אֲשֶׁר הִכִּיתָ אֶת־הַיְאֹר - ’asher hikkiytā ’et-haYe’or):

  • with which you struck the Nile: A specific and powerful identifier (Exod 7:20), referencing the first plague where the Nile was turned to blood. This explicit link serves as a powerful reminder of God's awesome power over creation and His judgment on Egypt. It establishes continuity: the same divine power that brought judgment now brings salvation/provision. It also served as a direct polemic against Egyptian deities associated with the Nile's fertility.

• and go (וְהָלָכְתָּ - vəhālakhta):

  • and go: A direct, decisive command for immediate action. Moses is not to hesitate but to proceed confidently in obedience to God's instruction.

Words-group analysis:

• And the Lord said to Moses: Establishes the divine origin of the command, emphasizing God's direct intervention and communication with His chosen servant amidst Israel's desperate situation.
• Pass on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel: This phrase details the required leadership and validation. Moses is to lead conspicuously, and the elders are to ensure that the divine miracle is officially witnessed and verified, removing any doubt as to its source or legitimacy.
• and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go: This specific instruction links the present miraculous provision to past demonstrations of God's power. The staff serves as a tangible symbol of God's continuous and unchanging authority, able to bring both judgment (Nile) and life (rock) through the same instrument. The final "and go" prompts immediate, confident obedience.

Exodus 17 5 Bonus section

The act of striking the rock in Exodus 17 with a staff is notably different from the instruction given in Numbers 20:8 where Moses is commanded to "speak to the rock." This distinction highlights Moses’ later disobedience. In Exodus 17, God commands Moses to strike, underscoring the necessity of judgment for the bringing forth of life, potentially symbolizing the "striking" of Christ. In Numbers 20, the repeated striking was unnecessary, possibly indicating a lack of faith or reverence on Moses' part. This Exodus event is highly significant as Paul explicitly interprets it Christologically in 1 Corinthians 10:4, referring to "the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ." This transforms the physical provision into a powerful metaphor for continuous spiritual sustenance and life found in Christ, who was "struck" for the provision of eternal life. The water from the rock, therefore, points beyond the physical, indicating Christ as the sole source of true, life-giving refreshment for humanity's deepest thirst.

Exodus 17 5 Commentary

Exodus 17:5 reveals God’s unwavering faithfulness and precise guidance even when His people are in rebellion. Despite the Israelites' murmuring and testing Him, the Lord does not abandon them. Instead, He instructs Moses to perform an act that clearly demonstrates divine power. The presence of the elders is key; they serve as credible witnesses to the miraculous water supply, reinforcing that it is God’s act, not human magic. The mention of the staff having struck the Nile (the River God of Egypt) is profound. It reminds Moses and the Israelites of the power unleashed against Egypt's false gods, reaffirming YHWH's absolute sovereignty and capacity to provide even in the barren wilderness. This command illustrates God's method of working through His appointed servant and a visible symbol of His authority, bringing forth life where there was only death, foreshadowing the spiritual refreshment found in Christ.